Asian Games: China crash Korean shooting party

Asian Games: China crash Korean shooting party

INCHEON, South Korea - Unheralded Zhang Mengyuan stunned hosts and favourites South Korea Saturday as China swept the women's 10 metre air pistol titles on day one of the Asian Games.

Zhang, who finished 20th at this month's world championships in Spain, beat Korean favourite Jung Jee-Hae into second spot in the individual event after helping China win team gold.

Shweta Chaudhry of India picked up the individual bronze ahead of China's Zhou Qingyuan and reigning Olympic champion Guo Wenjun.

The Chinese trio of Guo, Zhang and Zhou had earlier combined to snatch the team gold, the first title of the Games, ahead of the Koreans who wound up fourth.

Taiwan were second and Mongolia third in the team event. Medal winners are decided by combining the qualification scores of each team member, a rule that ruined the host nation's chances.

Kim Jang-Mi and Jung took the first two positions in the qualifying round, but team-mate Oh Mink-Yung came in 28th.

The Chinese shot consistently with Guo, who won the 10m individual title at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, finishing third, Zhang seventh and Zhou eighth.

China's legendary coach Wang Yifu said the pressure of performing at home may have got to the Korean girls.

"We could not take victory for granted because Korea is very strong in this event," Wang told Chinese reporters. "But I am happy our girls did well.

"The Koreans were let down by one shooter. That happens in this sport. That is why we have to make sure we perform consistently." Jung said she felt a "little bit shameful" after losing out on the gold following her success in Spain.

"I am very excited at getting a medal, but also a little bit shameful for not winning gold," she said. "But I will do my best next time.

"Actually all the attention after winning the world championships made me a bit uncomfortable. I just wanted to enjoy the Asian Games. This experience will do me a lot of good." Chaudhry, a silver medallist in the team event at the 2006 Doha Asiad, overshadowed her more accomplished compatriots, Heena Sidhu and the 16-year-old Malaika Goel, to give India its first medal at Incheon.

"I had my worst performance ever at the world championships, so it means a lot to me to come back strongly at the Asian Games," said Chaudhry, who finished 68th in Spain.

"Spain left me a bit shattered but I knew I had it in me to do better and I showed that today. A bronze in such a tough competition is very satisfying."

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