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25 April 2024

Asian Games: Mongolian mum bags historic shooting gold

South Korea's Kim Junhong reacts after defeating China's Zhang Jian for the gold medal in the 25m rapid fire pistol men's finals at Ongnyeon international shooting range during the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon on September 24, 2014. (AFP)

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By AFP

Mother-of-one Narantuya Chuluunbadrakh became the first Mongolian to win an Asian Games shooting gold medal when she clinched the women's 50m rifle prone title on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old from Ulaanbaatar finished the final with 624.1 points, just four off the world record of 628 set by German Beate Gauss at this month's world championships in Spain.

"Our previous best was a team silver four years ago, so this is really, really special," Chuluunbadrakh told AFP. "More so, since this is also my best score.

"It is too early to think of the future because the Olympics is still two years away, but I want to perform better in next year's World Cup.

"Hope this medal will inspire more women to take up shooting in Mongolia."

World champion Kim Jun-Hong won the men's 25m rapid fire gold medal by defeating Zhang Jian of China 31-30 in a classy final contested by three shooters from each team.

Zhang, who needed to score a four in his last round to draw level with Kim, managed only three and loud cheers broke out from a sizeable Korean crowd to celebrate the home hero's win.

Hu Haozhe of China claimed the bronze medal with 25 points, leaving compatriot and defending champion Li Yuehong in fourth place with 22 points.

The South Korean men also won the team title with Song Jong-Ho, Jang Daekyu and Kim shooting a combined score of 1,747 points.

The Chinese, who won both the team and individual gold medals at Guangzhou in 2010, had to be content with a silver ahead of third-placed Vietnam.

The 23-year-old Kim, competing in his first Asian Games, said winning the gold in front of his home fans was exciting.

"There is always pressure when you are performing at home, so I had to concentrate hard and give my best," he said. "Luckily I was able to do that because the competition was very tough."  

With 20 titles decided so far in the 44-event shooting competition, China have won 10 golds, South Korea six and India, Iran, Mongolia and Kazakhstan have one each.