Changwon 2026 Day 4: Park smashes world record as Korea strike double gold

Home athletes continued to steal the show at the Changwon 2026 World Shooting Para Sport Championships as they topped the podium twice and added a world record on Sunday.

On a day filled with thrills and nerves, six LA28 Paralympic quota places were earned by four nations at the Changwon International Shooting Range, which is hosting its first WSPS World Championships.

Home stars shine

Korea’s seasoned star Jinho Park lived up to his reputation, adding the world title to his Paris 2024 Paralympic gold with a brilliant 354.7, enough to set a new world record and claim the R7 - 50m rifle 3 positions men SH1 gold. Park broke the previous record held by Hungary’s Csaba Rescsik (353.8), set in Novi Sad in July.

However, Park’s journey to gold was far from easy, with Paralympic and world medallists including China’s Dong Chao and Lima 2023 runner-up Lee Jangho also in the mix.

A strong challenge also came from France’s Jean-Louis Michaud, who produced a 10.9 and a couple of 10.8s during his campaign, but it was not enough to stop Park.

Michaud, with a final score of 354.3, settled for silver and earned an LA28 quota place for France, while Park’s compatriot Suwan Kim took bronze on 339.9.

“I’m really honoured and grateful to have two titles in the World Championships at home,” said the 49-year-old Park, who, along with Jangho and Kim, set a new qualification world record with 1736-56x for the team gold.

“I had an injury in my left shoulder one month ago, so it was really tough today – but thanks to my team especially the medical team who supported me throughout. I’m very grateful to them.”

🔴 Next: R8 Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1.

Cuiping Zhang 🇨🇳 and Veronika Vadovicova 🇸🇰, the two most decorated athletes in the sport, in the same final.

Watch live 👇https://t.co/8rExjmZ89N#ShootingParaSport #Changwon2026 pic.twitter.com/WnRBvMn5om

— Shooting Para Sport (@ShootingPara) September 13, 2026

Before Park’s world record performance, Rio 2016 bronze medallist Yunri Lee had already sparked home celebrations by winning Korea’s second individual gold in Changwon.

Lee overcame a strong challenge from two-time Paralympic silver medallist Anna Benson of Sweden in the R8 - 50m rifle 3 positions women SH1 final.

Benson finished on 353.1, 0.6 points behind Lee, who claimed her first world title despite shooting a 9.1 to Benson’s 10.2 in the final series. Al Ain 2022 champion Emilia Babska settled for bronze with 341.8 points.

Multiple-time Paralympic medallists - Slovakia's Veronika Vadovicova and China's Cuiping Zhang, the Paris 2024 silver and bronze medallists, also were in action only to finish outside the medals. 

🔴 Last final of day four: R9 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2.

Watch live 👇https://t.co/ghryv195zG#ShootingParaSport #Changwon2026 pic.twitter.com/OJwL20e4W9

— Shooting Para Sport (@ShootingPara) September 13, 2026

Starec’s second gold

The excitement continued at the Changwon International Shooting Range as Italy’s teenager Tommaso Starec extended his dream run by clinching his second gold medal, this time in the R9 - 50m rifle prone open SH2.

Starec continued to add to his belated birthday celebrations, thanks to his impressive consistency and composure. 

There were plenty of thrilling moments in the closing stages as Thailand’s Anuson Chaichamnan, Spain’s Juan Antonio Saavedra Reinaldo and Starec remained in the gold-medal race through the final three series.

As the competition intensified towards the end, Saavedra Reinaldo’s 9.9 ended his chances in a shoot-off, while Chaichamnan progressed to the final series and secured an LA28 quota place.

In the end, Starec’s consistency paid off as he added the R9 title to his R4 gold won on the opening day. Two-time Paralympic champion Dragan Ristic finished fifth.

Imagen

Dream debut

The first final in the visually impaired events was also contested on Sunday and produced a surprise result.

Five months after attaining her international license, Spain’s 18-year-old Isabel Maria Lopez Elvira made a dream debut at Changwon 2026, winning the VIS -10m air rifle VI standing Open SH VI final for her first Worlds title.

“I wasn’t expecting this result. I was recently selected for the national team, and I didn't expect that I would be the first in the world. It was very difficult. I didn’t expect to get so many points in the final,” said Lopez Elvira, who shot 227.1 to take the gold, finishing 6.9 points ahead of Poland’s Boguslaw Rutkowski.

“I thought the results would be worse. And since I don't understand English, I thought I was going to be last, but no. It went quite well.”

You can relive the action from Changwon by watching the livestream, while results are available here.