China wins first gold of 2014 Asian Games

INCHEON, South Korea – China won the first gold medal of the 2014 Asian Games on Saturday, September 20 when its women shooters – Olympic champion Guo Wenjun, Zhang Mengyuan and Zhou Qingyuan – clinched the 10m air pistol team title.

Hosts and defending champions South Korea, who were the pre-Games favorites, finished a poor fourth behind silver-medallists Taiwan and Mongolia.

Medal winners are decided by combining the qualification scores of each team member, a rule that ruined South Korea’s chances.

The home team’s Kim Jang-Mi and newly-crowned world champion Jung Jee-Hae took the first two positions in the qualifying round, but team-mate Oh Mink-Yung came in 28th.

The Chinese shot consistently with Guo, who won the 10m individual title at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, finishing third, Zhang seventh and Zhou eighth.

Mengyuan wasn’t done yet grabbing medals as she beat Korean favorite Jung Jee-Hae to win gold in the individual event.

Shweta Chaudhry of India picked up the individual bronze ahead of China’s Zhou Qingyuan and reigning Olympic champion Guo Wenjun.

China’s legendary coach Wang Yifu said the pressure of performing at home may have got to the Korean girls.

“We could not take victory for granted because Korea is very strong in this event,” Wang told Chinese reporters. “But I am happy our girls did well.

“The Koreans were let down by one shooter. That happens in this sport. That is why we have to make sure we perform consistently.”

Jung said she felt a “little bit shameful” after losing out on the gold following her success in Spain.

“I am very excited at getting a medal, but also a little bit shameful for not winning gold,” she said. “But I will do my best next time.

“Actually all the attention after winning the world championships made me a bit uncomfortable. I just wanted to enjoy the Asian Games. This experience will do me a lot of good.”

Hosts South Korea struck gold later on in the morning when Lee Ha-Sung won the men’s changquan in the wushu competition.

Poor ticket sales and public apathy had caused concern in the build-up to the 45-nation, 9,500-athlete tournament. South Korean organizers are counting on home athletes winning medals to fill seats. – Rappler.com