China's Sheng sets new world record on the way to 10m air rifle gold at Hangzhou

Gold medalist Sheng Lihao of China attends the awarding ceremony for the Men's 10m Air Rifle of Shooting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen-year-old Chinese shooter Sheng Lihao clinched the gold medal with a new world record with 253.3 points in the men's 10m air rifle at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Monday.

On the range, the Tokyo Olympic Games silver medalist showcased his stability and speed, firing 60 shots in just half the allotted time. He ranked first in the qualification round with 634.5 points. His teammate, Du Linshu, advanced to the final in seventh place.

During the first round of the final, after the first five shots, South Korean athlete Park Ha-jun took the lead with 53.4 points. Sheng trailed by 1.2 points, creating a tense moment for Chinese fans. However, after the 10th shot, Sheng reclaimed the lead with 105.3 points, edging out Park by 0.4 points. He maintained this lead until the end.

Park secured the silver medal with 251.3, while India's Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar took home bronze with 228.8. Another Chinese competitor, Du, finished in eighth place.

"I did not think about breaking the record today," Sheng said with a smile.

In the team event, the Chinese team also set a new mark in men's 25m rapid fire pistol with 1765.

India claimed the men's 10m air rifle title with a world record in 1,893.7 points. South Korea took silver with 1,890.1, and the team of Sheng, Du, and Yu Haonan earned bronze for China with 1,888.2.

Yu Haonan, Du Linshu and Sheng Lihao (from L to R) of China attend the awarding ceremony for Men's Team 10m Air Rifle of Shooting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

Silver medalist Park Hajun of South Korea attends the awarding ceremony for the Men's 10m Air Rifle of Shooting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

Bronze medalist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar of India attends the awarding ceremony for the Men's 10m Air Rifle of Shooting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

Sheng Lihao of China competes during Men's Team 10m Air Rifle of Shooting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)