Paris 2024: Ristic comes from behind to retain Paralympic gold

Seasoned star Dragan Ristic put up a stellar show of precision and resilience on his way to defend his R9 - mixed 50m rifle prone SH2 gold medal at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre on Wednesday (4 September).

Ristic, who qualified down in the eighth place, gradually surged ahead in the finals with 10.5s and above for a total of 250.2, enough to take the gold. Georgia's Vladimer Tchintcharauli (248.2) settled for the silver - but he will be very proud of putting up a strong show as he stayed in medal contention right from the beginning of the final. This was Tchintcharauli's first Paralympic medal in his career.

Great Britain's Tim Jeffery (227.8) claimed the bronze and his first Paralympic medal too, while local favourite Tanguy de La Forest settled for the fourth place.

“This is a huge honour for me and my country. I defended my Tokyo title, and I am proud. This will be motivation to keep going for Los Angeles (the 2028 Paralympic Games)," said the Serbian star taking the motivation from the water polo team (from the Paris2024 Olympic Games) to win three gold medals.

Chao gets first P4 gold

Earlier, Chinese pistol king Yang Chao shattered the Games record yet again to clinch his first Paralympic title in P4 - mixed 50m pistol SH1 event, at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

Chao, who has earlier won the P3 - mixed 25m pistol SH1 competition, showed amazing control to shoot a new Games score of 220.1 despite shooting a six in the penultimate series. This was Chao's first P4 mixed gold after his silver in Rio 2016 and fifth place in Tokyo 2020.

“I am excited and very happy. It is a perfect journey for me because I won a medal in each session I was in.

“At one point in the qualification round, I was worried I could not push myself to make the final, and in the end I won the gold medal,” said Chao won his first gold in mixed P4 event after Rio 2016 silver.   

Uzbekistan's Server Ibragimov and Italy's Davide Franceschetti claimed the silver and bronze respectively, with Franceschetti taking his first ever Paralympic medal.  

South Korea's Jeongdu Jo, who claimed the P1 - men's 10m air pistol SH1 earlier in the competition, had a Paralympic record in the qualification but could only manage the fourth spot.

Iran's Rio 2016 champion and winner of P2-women's 10m air pistol SHI in Paris 2024, Sareh Javanmardi finished in fifth spot.

Competition at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre continues with R6 - mixed 50m rifle prone SH1 event scheduled for the final day.