Jinho Park on target in Bangkok

Jinho Park has been right on target at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup, leading a strong South Korean showing after the first two days of competition wrapped up on Thursday (9 November) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The reigning R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) world champion captured gold in the event on Wednesday (8 November), and followed up Thursday with another win this time in the R1 (men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) in world-record fashion.

In Park’s R3 victory, he shot two perfect 10.9 scores for a total of 253.2, finishing ahead of teammate Jangho Lee (250.9). The two were neck-in-neck in the final three rounds, and for Park, the victory helped make up for disappointment from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he left without a medal. Jae Yong Sim (229.9) took third to complete the South Korean sweep.

Park continued his form in the R1, leading all the way in the elimination stage, en route to a world record total of 248.9. Slovenia’s Franc Pinter (244.6) and United Arab Emirates’ Rio 2016 silver medallist Abdulla Sultan Alaryani (223.6) rounded off the podium.

There was also success for South Korea in the R4 (mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2). After winning that event at September’s World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, Jiseok Lee added another gold medal in Bangkok. He narrowly beat compatriot Youngjun Jeon, shooting 252.6 to Jeon’s 252.3. New Zealand’s Michael Johnson (231.1) finished third.

Jeon did take a victory in Bangkok, capturing the R9 (mixed 50m rifle prone SH2) gold medal on Thursday with a world record 247.8. His shot of 10.8 in the final round was enough to edge fellow South Korean Geunsoo Kim (246.9). Italy’s Pamela Novaglio (225.4) took third place.

Australia’s Christopher Pitt spoiled a South Korean sweep in the P3 (mixed 25m pistol SH1). He bested Seakyun Park for the top prize for his first P3 win this season, after taking bronze in September’s World Cup in Osijek, Croatia. Myungsoon Park captured the bronze in a shoot-off.

Thursday saw the emergence of new stars from India in the P1 (men’s 10m air pistol SH1). Deepender Singh shot a world record score of 238.3 to make his World Shooting Para Sport debut one to remember. He beat his 16-year-old compatriot Manish Narwal, who set a junior world record of 236.6. The USA’s Marco De La Rosa (211.0) took third.

The Bangkok 2017 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup continues on Friday (10 November) with P2 (women’s 10m air pistol SH1), R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) and R7 (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1) events. It is the last competition of the year, giving athletes an opportunity to earn valuable Minimum Qualification Standard (MQS) points toward the 2018 World Championships.

Live results are available on World Shooting Para Sport's website.