Published on 10 Aug 2008
10m Air Pistol Women Final: Two new Olympic Records set today
Marco Dalla Dea
People’s Republic of China gains another Gold thanks to GUO Wenjun, a 24-year old athlete who climbed up the scoreboard to finish in first with a new, exciting, Final Olympic Record. Another record was set during the qualifications by the Russian World Champion Natalia PADERINA, who finished in second place after firing a frustrating 8.5 on her second competitions shot. Bronze to the Georgian champion SALUKVADZE <em>“But I am too sad to celebrate” </em> she commented.
The 10m Air Pistol Women Event saw the victory of the home champion, the 24-year old GUO Wenjun of China, who finished on the first step of the podium winning a precious Gold for China with a total score of 492.3 points (390 + 102.3). With this golden final score, the young shooter set a new Final Olympic Record, shattering the previous 490.1 held by Olga KLOCHNEVA, who had established it shooting for URS at the 1996 Games of Atlanta. GUO, starting her match in second place one point behind the current World Champion Natalia PADERINA of the Russian Federation, moved on the lead when her opponents fired a fatal 8.5 on her second competition shot. From there on, GUO kept the lead, running alone to the Gold supported by the numerous local spectators. “I couldn’t ask for any better – say GUO after the round – I won the this Gold after years of hard work, and I am happy. I did not change anything from the qualifications. – she continued – I just felt comfortable during the final round, and I tried to give my best” The Chinese shooter kept up with the expectations: she had been enlisted between the favourites after she had won two consecutive ISSF World Cup Stages in Munich and Milan, earlier this season.
Natalia PADERINA, 32, after loosing her front position, landed in second place winning the Silver medal with a score of 489.1 points (391 + 98.1). She had entered the final round with an impressive score of 391 points, a new Olympic Record, one point more then what shot by the Chinese athlete TAO Luna at the 2000 Games of Sydney. The excellent qualification result did not save her from the remount of GUO, and the Russian shooter could not recover after that 8.5 “I was a little bit disappointed. I fail to concentrate at the beginning of the match” commented PADERINA at the press conference “Anyway, this medal is priceless for me, I cannot describe my feelings right now” continued the Russian athlete, who had finished in fifth place at the last Games of Athens “GUO is very competitive – added PADERINA – maybe playing on her home soil was an advantage… I congratulate her!”
The battle for Bronze was won by the Georgian athlete Nino SALUKVADZE (39), the 1988 Olympic Silver medallist of Seoul. She won her duel against Jasna Sekaric of Serbia, finishing on the podium with a score of 487.4 points “It is a sad day for my country” only said SALUKVADZE “I am happy, but it is difficult to celebrate while my country is on war” . She preceded the five times Olympic medallist Jasna SEKARIC of Serbia, who closed her round in sixth place after a disappointing final of 96.9 points.
Natalia PADERINA, 32, after loosing her front position, landed in second place winning the Silver medal with a score of 489.1 points (391 + 98.1). She had entered the final round with an impressive score of 391 points, a new Olympic Record, one point more then what shot by the Chinese athlete TAO Luna at the 2000 Games of Sydney. The excellent qualification result did not save her from the remount of GUO, and the Russian shooter could not recover after that 8.5 “I was a little bit disappointed. I fail to concentrate at the beginning of the match” commented PADERINA at the press conference “Anyway, this medal is priceless for me, I cannot describe my feelings right now” continued the Russian athlete, who had finished in fifth place at the last Games of Athens “GUO is very competitive – added PADERINA – maybe playing on her home soil was an advantage… I congratulate her!”
The battle for Bronze was won by the Georgian athlete Nino SALUKVADZE (39), the 1988 Olympic Silver medallist of Seoul. She won her duel against Jasna Sekaric of Serbia, finishing on the podium with a score of 487.4 points “It is a sad day for my country” only said SALUKVADZE “I am happy, but it is difficult to celebrate while my country is on war” . She preceded the five times Olympic medallist Jasna SEKARIC of Serbia, who closed her round in sixth place after a disappointing final of 96.9 points.