South Korea Clinches First Medal of Paris Olympics in Mixed Rifle Shooting

CHATEAUROUX — South Korea has guaranteed itself at least a silver medal in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event at the Paris Olympics, marking the nation’s first medal in this year’s games.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean shooters Park Ha-jun and Keum Ji-hyeon finished second in the qualification round with a score of 631.4 points, just behind the Chinese team of Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting, who scored 632.2 points. This strong performance ensures that Park and Keum will win at least a silver medal in the final match, which is scheduled to take place later today, following the bronze medal match.

This event is particularly significant as it is the first medal event of the Paris Olympics. The final will consist of each shooter firing single shots within a 50-second limit, with the combined score of each team determining the points awarded each round. The first team to reach 16 points will claim the gold medal.

The decision to pair Park and Keum, made just two days prior to the competition, proved strategic as their synchronicity outshone their initial separate pairings in training sessions. Meanwhile, the alternate South Korean team of Choe Dae-han and Ban Hyo-jin, despite their efforts, finished 22nd in the qualifications.