10M AIR RIFLE WOMEN
As in the men’s version of this event, Chinese hopes are hugely high for Paris.
Reigning world champion Han Jiayu, 22, has had another impressive season, setting a qualifying world record of 636.3 at the Baku World Cup in May.
But her exploits have been outdone this year by 17-year-old team-mate Huang Yuting (pictured), who beat her in the Chinese trials and set a junior qualifying world record of 635.3 en route to taking gold at the final World Cup of the season at Munich in June, when Han took bronze.
The silver medallist was 16-year-old Ban Hyojiin of the Republic of Korea, who is clearly another to watch in Paris along with her team-mate Keum Jihyeon, gold medallist at the Baku World Cup. Eunji Kwon, Granada World Cup winner, has not earned a Paris place.
But China will be very far from having this event to themselves in Paris given the welter of talented challengers from around the world.
Germany’s Anna Janssen has had an outstanding season in both rifle categories and tops the 10m air rifle world rankings. Janssen, 22, has won World Cup gold this season in Cairo and bronze in Granada, as well as taking the European title.
India has not selected 20-year-old Nancy Nancy, who won the Asian title in January in a junior world record and is world-ranked No.3, nor 23-year-old world bronze medallist Mehuli Ghosh, world-ranked No.18. So one must expect their two chosen athletes, 20-year-old Ramita Ramita, world-ranked No.19, and Elavenil Valarivan, narrowly beaten in the Asian final by Nancy Nancy, to challenge for medals.
Other strong contenders will include Poland’s 29-year-old Aneta Stankiewicz, whose late charge took her past Han and Huang as she earned gold at World Cup Final in Doha last November – her first major international title. She is currently ranked second in the world.
Also in contention in both rifle categories are Stankiewicz’s team-mate Julia Piotrowska, world-ranked four in the 10m air rifle list and Switzerland’s Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist nd 50m rifle 3 positions champion Nina Christen.
Home hopes will be carried by Oceanne Muller while the United States will look to Mary Tucker, who won mixed team silver with Lucas Kozeniesky at Tokyo 2020, and Sagen Maddalena.
Meanwhile Britain will have medal chances through in-form Seonaid McIntosh, who tops the 50m rifle 3 positions world list and is currently ranked 17th in the 10m air rifle.
2024 results
Asia Olympic Qualification/Champs Rifle/Pistol – Jakarta Jan
Nancy Nancy (IND), Elavenil Valarivan (IND) Yufan Shen (CHN)
ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun Cairo Jan-Feb
Anna Janssen (GER), Sonam Maskar (IND), Aneta Stankiewicz (POL)
ISSF World Cup 10m Rifle/Pistol Granada Feb
Eunji Kwon KOR), Pernille Nor-Woll (NOR), Anna Janssen (GER)
European Championships 10m Rifle/Pistol Gyor Feb-March
Anna Janssen (GER), Julia Piotrowska (POL), Audrey Gogniat (SUI)
Olympic Qualification CAT XIV Rifle/Pistol Buenos Aires March-April
Sagen Maddalena (USA), Alison Weisz (USA), Lisbet Hernandez Hernandez (CUB)
ISSF Final Olympic Qualification Championship Rifle/Pistol Rio de Janeiro April
Oceanne Muller (FRA), Manon Herbulot (FRA), Synnoeve Berg (NOR)
ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun Baku May
Keum Jihyeon (KOR), Wang Zifei (CHN), Han Jiayu (CHN)
ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol Munich May-June
Huang Yuting (CHN), Ban Hyojin (KOR), Han Jiayu (CHN)