2023 ISSF World Championships in Baku: Victor Lindgren wins men's 10m air rifle with Han Jiayu taking women's crown
Sweden's European junior champion beat Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Yang Haoran of the People's Republic of China, before Han led a Chinese women's one-two as eight athletes earned Paris 2024 quotas for their federations.
Shooting
Swedish youngster Victor Lindgren claimed the men's 10m air rifle title at the 2023 ISSF Shooting World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday (19 August).
The 20-year-old, who won the European junior title earlier this year, defied his world ranking of 104 to defeat Yang Haoran of the People's Republic of China in the final head-to-head with a total of 251.3 from 24 shots.
Czechia's Frantisek Smetana took bronze with Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan finishing fourth.
The top four athletes also secured Paris 2024 quotas for their National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
Later in the day, Han Jiayu overcame a slow start to lead home a Chinese one-two in the women's event and win her country's seventh gold of these World Championships.
Han scored 251.4 to beat Wang Zhilin with India's Mehuli Ghosh who, in turn, edged out 15-year-old teammate Tilottama Sen for bronze.
With two Chinese and two Indians in the top four, quota places went to Shermineh Chehel Amirani of the Islamic Republic of Iran in fifth, and Switzerland's Audrey Gogniat in sixth.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the next Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Lindgren wins duel with Yang to clinch biggest success
After the first set of five shots, Tokyo 2020 individual bronze medallist Yang led on 52.0 but just half a point separated the entire eight-man field with Lindgren and Lu Shao-chuan of Chinese Taipei next on 51.9.
Lu struggled in the second series, and Yang and Lindgren forged clear at the front with the Swede scoring an impressive 53.3 to take his total to 105.2, just 0.1 ahead of the Chinese. Smetana was third after 10 shots on 104.3.
The format then switched to single shots, and Yang moved back into the lead with a 10.9 against Lindgren's 10.6.
The first elimination came after 12 shots with Italy's Edoardo Bonazzi bowing out of his first senior final.
Two shots later, Lu went out while Yang extended his lead over Lindgren and Smetana stayed in a comfortable third.
On the 16th shot, Lindgren hit a 10.9 and went back in front as Yang - who took his world title tally to six earlier in the day with the team title decided in the qualification rounds - faltered with a 9.8. Yang's teammate Du Linshu took his leave from the competition in sixth place.
The four Paris 2024 quota places would soon be decided, and a 10.7 from Satpayev gave Bararaa Nyantai a mountain to climb. The Mongolian had too much to do, trailing his rival by 1.4 going into the 18th shot, and having to settle for fifth place.
At the top, Lindgren led Yang by just 0.1 after 18 shots with Smetana a 0.8 further adrift and Satpayev one point behind the Czech.
The tension was beginning to show as Smetana could only manage a 9.4, but Satpayev was unable to take full advantage with a 9.7 leaving him 0.7 behind bronze-medal position.
Smetana then posted a 10.2 with Satpayev's 10.1 seeing him settle for fourth, but securing a quota place for his nation.
With Smetana well back in third, the focus was on the front two and Lindgren's 10.8 with his 21st shot put him in charge as Yang could only manage a 10.1.
After 22 shots, and Smetana's elimination, Lindgren led Yang by 0.7 with two shots remaining. The title was in the Swede's hands, and a 10.7 to Yang's 10.4 gave him a one-point advantage into the last shot.
And Lindgren's final shot of 10.3 made it impossible for him to be caught, with Yang shooting 10.6 in vain.
Han Jiayu charges to women's victory
After 10 shots, Wang and France's Oceanne Muller held the joint-lead on 105.1 with Ghosh 0.4 adrift.
Singapore's Martina Veloso was the first athlete eliminated after 12 shots and Muller, after losing her way somewhat, found herself in a shoot-off with Indian athlete Sen to decide who would make the top six.
Muller scored 10.1 and Sen responded with 10.7 to put out the only Olympian in the field and move herself up the order.
With two Chinese and two Indians left in the competition, that meant the four quota places had been decided.
Gogniat had to settle for sixth with 166.2 after 16 shots, just a tenth behind Chehel Amirani, but earned a quota spot for Switzerland in the process.
At the top, Han worked her way to the front with teammate Wang ahead of the two Indians who would soon be battling it out for a place on the podium.
Having won silver in the mixed event, Amirani capped a superb first international competition with fifth place and a quota spot for Iran.
Ghosh trailed Sen by 0.1 going into the 20th shot but produced a 10.8 exactly when she needed it. Her teammate only managed a 10.1 in response, which left her in fourth.
As Ghosh took bronze, Wang's 10.9 with her 22nd shot closed the gap to leader Han to just three-tenths of a point.
Han's 10.2 left the door slightly ajar, but Wang's 9.5 all but wrecked her chances of gold. With her final shot, a 10.3, Han sealed the win and more glory for China at these championships.
Women's 10m air rifle podium at the 2023 ISSF Championships (L-R): runner-up Wang Zhilin, winner Han Jiayu, third-placed Mehuli Ghosh
Results from men's 10m air rifle final at the 2023 ISSF World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan:
- Victor Lindgren (SWE) - 251.3 - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for Sweden
- Yang Haoran (CHN) - 250.6 - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for People's Republic of China
- Frantisek Smetana (CZE) - 227.5 (after 22 shots) - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for Czechia
- Islam Satpayev (KAZ) - 206.5 (20) - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for Kazakhstan
- Bararaa Nyantai (MGL) - 185.1 (18)
- Du Lindshu (CHN) - 164.5 (16)
- Lu Shao-Chuan (TPE) 143.0 (14)
- Edoardo Bonazzi (ITA) 123.1 (12)
Results from women's 10m air rifle final at the 2023 ISSF World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan:
- Han Jiayu (CHN) - 251.4 - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for People's Republic of China
- Wang Zhilin (CHN) - 250.2
- Mehuli Ghosh (IND) - 229.8 (after 22 shots) - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for India
- Tilottama Sen (IND) - 208.4 (20)
- Shermineh Chehel Amirani (IRI) - 187.4 (18) - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for IR Iran
- Audrey Gogniat (SUI) - 166.2 (16) - Also earns Paris 2024 berth for Switzerland
- Oceanne Muller (FRA) - 145.7 (14)
- Martina Veloso (SGP) - 122.4 (12)