Indonesia 2018: Clean sweep for China

An all-Chinese podium was the highlight of the shooting Para sport competition on Tuesday (9 October) at the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games.

Chinese superstar Cuiping Zhang won gold in the R8 (women’s 50m rifle 3 position SH1) leading from start to finish in a comprehensive display. Her score of 453.1 also gave her the Asian Para Games record.

She was joined on the podium by Yaping Yan (silver) and Xiaohong Bai (bronze), who exchanged shots all competition in a tight battle for places.

Zhang said it was the first time they had finished in the top three in the same event.

“I am happy with my teammates because they did their best in the event and it is our best result together,” she said.

“I am very happy to get the golden medal because yesterday I lost the gold medal [in the R2]. I didn’t do my best in yesterday’s event but today, I did my best to my normal level.

Zhang has two more events at Indonesia 2018, the R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) and R6 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH1).

“I will try my best to win. I hope I can have a usual mind to focus on the next event and I want to do better and do my best in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.”

Iran nearly matched the Chinese feat in the P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1).

Another outstanding performance from Sareh Javanmardi saw her win her second gold of Indonesia 2018 with an Asian Para Games record of 237.6. Fellow Iranian Samira Eram took home the silver.

The other two Para shooting gold medals for the day were awarded to India’s Manish Narwal in the P1 (men’s 100m air rifle SH1) and Jiseok Lee of South Korea, who won the R9 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH2) with a Games record score of 244.8.