Paris 2024 Shooting: Serbia's Zorana Arunović and Damir Mikec win mixed team gold after thrilling comeback over Türkiye
Serbia secured a thrilling gold in the air pistol mixed team final after overcoming Türkiye in an enthralling encounter at Paris 2024 on Tuesday.
Zorana Arunović and Damir Mikec finished fourth at Tokyo 2020, but made it gold in Paris after recovering from 8-2 down to beat Yusuf Dikeç and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan 16-14.
Victory sparked emotional scenes as Arunović and Mikec celebrated topping the podium three years on from narrowly missing out.
India beat the Republic of Korea 16-10 to secure the bronze at Chateauroux.
Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec of Team Serbia celebrate winning the gold
Turkish duo Dikeç and Tarhan had already made history in reaching the final, knowing they would deliver their nation a first-ever Olympic shooting medal.
And in their bid to make that gold, the pair got off to a flying start against Arunović and Mikec, moving 8-2 in front after five rounds.
Arunović and Mikec - the latter a Tokyo 2020 silver medallist in the individual event - only led for the first time at 12-10, but two straight rounds to Türkiye saw them bring up the first match points at 14-12.
With so much on the line, clutch scores of 10.8 and 10.5 saw Arunović and Mikec deny the Turkish pair to level the match, and in the 15th and final round they then posted a combined 20.1 to Türkiye's 19.3 to snatch gold in dramatic circumstances.
Just before, India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh enjoyed a 16-10 win to take the bronze medal at Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin’s (Republic of Korea) expense.
Bhaker and Singh led the Korean duo 8-2 after five rounds, and held off a mini-fightback to secure the bronze after 13 rounds.
Shooting, air pistol mixed team final, Paris 2024
Gold: Zorana Arunović, Damir Mikec, Serbia
Silver: Yusuf Dikeç, Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, Türkiye
Bronze: Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, India