2018 in Review: Sharp shooters in Jakarta

The region’s best shooting Para sport athletes were back in action for October’s Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Over five days, the competition saw 109 athletes from 19 nations vying for top honours in the 13 medal events.

Let us rewind to the major takeaways from Indonesia 2018:

Sareh sharp as ever

On the first day of competition, Iran’s Sareh Javanmardi wasted no time asserting her dominance in the pistol events. She opened her Asian Para Games campaign with gold in the P4 (mixed 50m free pistol SH1) and later won the P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1). It was her first competition since winning both events at May’s World Championships.

China and South Korea among the top

South Korea topped the medals table at their home World Championships with 16, followed by China. Six months later at the Asian Para Games, the standings were flipped.

China won 13 medals and South Korea 11, each claiming a trio of gold medals. Both have proven to be strong nations in the sport and will be tough to beat ahead of the 2019 World Championships in Sydney, Australia.

Good golden feeling

China’s Cuiping Zhang won three medals, including gold in her strongest event the R8 (women’s 50m rifle three positions SH1). It was a redeeming feeling for the Paralympic champion, especially after not leaving Cheongju 2018 with a world title. She also won with an Asian Para Games record.

Jiseok keeps jostling through

After gold at his home Worlds, South Korea’s Jiseok Lee keep the momentum going in Indonesia. He displayed his strength in the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2) by winning the event in Asian Para Games-record fashion. He came away with double gold, winning the newly added Paralympic event R9 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH2) and silver in the R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone mixed SH2).

Junior hanging with the seniors

India has an exciting pistol talent at hand, with Manish Narwal continuing his excellent season. The 17-year-old set a world junior record in the P4 and took silver behind the experienced Javanmardi. He then went on to win India’s only gold in the sport, taking the P1 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH2).

Alaryani still amazing

The UAE’s Abdulla Sultan Alaryani proved why he won the R7 (men’s 50m rifle three positions SH1) world title in May by also taking the gold in Indonesia. He won by a mammoth 10 points in Jakarta, the same margin as in Cheongju.