Published on 09 Aug 2008
10m Air Pistol Men Final: PANG Wei brings Gold to China
Marco Dalla Dea
Asia dominated the 10m Air Pistol Men Final. China, Korea and the People’s Republic of Korea shared the second podium of these Games: the final round saw the duel for Silver between the two shooters from the Korean peninsula, and the outstanding victory of the home champion PANG Wei, winner of the home spectators applauses.
Asia monopolized today’s 10m Air Pistol Men Event, the second shooting competition of the first day of this XXIX Olympiad of Beijing 2008. If the first podium of the Games (10m Air Rifle Women competition) had been reserved by Europe, the Air Pistol Men event turned out to be an exclusive heritage of the Asian shooters that conquered the three medals. The home athlete, the 2006 ISSF World Champion PANG Wei, 22, did not hide his intentions when he entered the final round in first place, starting the final match with two points of advantage on the followers and wearing the “medals suite” of the Chinese team “I did not mean to be arrogant! – claimed PANG during the press conference – the final hall is very cold because of the air conditioners, so I thought to wear the “medal suite” to be more comfortable while shooting…”
The Chinese champion did not suffer the pressure of the home court, has had happened two hours before to his team-mate DU Li in the Rifle Women match, and shot Gold without hesitations with a total score of 688.2 points (586+102.2) “Well, I did not know the results of the 10m Air Rifle competition – PANG admitted – we were kept away from journalists and media, to maintain the right focus before the pistol match.” But PANG could not avoid meeting the media crowding the final hall to follow his competition “I was not scared by cameras and lights. We are preparing these Games since four years, and I am used to compete on international stages. Sure, the Games are not the same, you feel it is different, and this explains those few mistakes I made during the final round” In spite of some minor disappointments, such as a first shot of 9.3 points, PANG had no difficulties to close on the highest step of the podium, to gain the first Olympic medal of Beijing 2008 in shooting for his country. The new Olympic Champion follows the footsteps of his coach, the 2004 Champion WANG Yifu who has been training him during the last years “My coach has an important role in this victory. But I was alone with my pistol on the final range, today. I will try to give my best in the following years, and I whish I could be so successful as the champions that preceded me.”
The Asian podium was completed by JIN Jong Oh from Korea, Silver medallist with 684.5 points (584+100.5), and KIM Jong Su from the People’s Republic of Korea, Bronze medallist with 683.0 points (584+99.0). The two athletes, who had started tied with the same qualification points, fought head to head right to the end, finishing on the podium side by side. They had been competing also in the Olympic final of Athens 2004, where they had finished in fifth and eighth place respectively.
The final round was concluded by a shoot-off for the fourth place between two American shooter, the well known World Cup multi-medallist Jason Turner, and the surprising Brian Beaman, tied with the score of 682.0 points . Beaman, who lost the shoot-off 10.3 to 10.5, had never competed in a major final round before “This is the best place to start doing finals, the Games! It has been an incredible day, a little bit stressing maybe, but I could not ask any better!”
The Chinese champion did not suffer the pressure of the home court, has had happened two hours before to his team-mate DU Li in the Rifle Women match, and shot Gold without hesitations with a total score of 688.2 points (586+102.2) “Well, I did not know the results of the 10m Air Rifle competition – PANG admitted – we were kept away from journalists and media, to maintain the right focus before the pistol match.” But PANG could not avoid meeting the media crowding the final hall to follow his competition “I was not scared by cameras and lights. We are preparing these Games since four years, and I am used to compete on international stages. Sure, the Games are not the same, you feel it is different, and this explains those few mistakes I made during the final round” In spite of some minor disappointments, such as a first shot of 9.3 points, PANG had no difficulties to close on the highest step of the podium, to gain the first Olympic medal of Beijing 2008 in shooting for his country. The new Olympic Champion follows the footsteps of his coach, the 2004 Champion WANG Yifu who has been training him during the last years “My coach has an important role in this victory. But I was alone with my pistol on the final range, today. I will try to give my best in the following years, and I whish I could be so successful as the champions that preceded me.”
The Asian podium was completed by JIN Jong Oh from Korea, Silver medallist with 684.5 points (584+100.5), and KIM Jong Su from the People’s Republic of Korea, Bronze medallist with 683.0 points (584+99.0). The two athletes, who had started tied with the same qualification points, fought head to head right to the end, finishing on the podium side by side. They had been competing also in the Olympic final of Athens 2004, where they had finished in fifth and eighth place respectively.
The final round was concluded by a shoot-off for the fourth place between two American shooter, the well known World Cup multi-medallist Jason Turner, and the surprising Brian Beaman, tied with the score of 682.0 points . Beaman, who lost the shoot-off 10.3 to 10.5, had never competed in a major final round before “This is the best place to start doing finals, the Games! It has been an incredible day, a little bit stressing maybe, but I could not ask any better!”