China's shooting team, renowned for its prowess in international competitions, is gearing up for the Paris Olympics with high hopes.
More than two dozen athletes will represent China in pistol, rifle, and shotgun events.
The athletes underwent a rigorous simulation competition in their final preparation stage for the Olympics, honing their focus and composure amidst blaring music and simulated crowd noises to perform under pressure.
Among the 21 athletes, many born after 2000 and making their Olympic debut, the spotlight is on 19-year-old Sheng Lihao.
After setting a world record in the men's 10m air rifle and winning a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he is embarking on his second Olympic journey.
"Young athletes' biggest advantage is the fighting spirit, not afraid of their opponents. The disadvantage is a lack of experience. For example, when they encounter difficulties, they may not turn the situation back as easily as experienced athletes. However, we really value young athletes' fighting spirits," said Zhao Yuqing, head of the China Pistol Shooting Team.
Pistol shooter Xu Haifeng, who made history as China's first-ever Olympic champion in 1984, embodies the nation's enduring strength in shooting sports. Chinese athletes frequently clinch top medals in international competitions.
The 2024 Olympic shooting events will take place in Chateauroux, 300 kilometers from Paris, marking the first time the competition will be held outside the host city.
"The shooting event at the Paris 2024 Olympics will take place in Chateauroux, 300 kilometers from the Olympic city. We conducted simulation competition like the atmosphere, lighting background, based on the conditions of the competition venue," Zhao explained.
Looking ahead to Paris, Zhao affirmed that his team will give their utmost effort.
"We strive for gold for each of the ten events in rifle and pistol. We may not know the results, but we work hard towards this goal," said Zhao.
As the Games draw closer, Zhao emphasized the importance of athletes maintaining a balanced mindset.
"Now, it's more important to adjust the athletes' mentality and lower their expectations on results. The Olympics is a game. In fact, the technical difficulty is lower than at the World Championships or even the ISSF World Cup. However, in the Olympics, the athletes' mentality and thoughts are much more difficult to adjust than in other games. We try our best to make athletes return to the essence of the game so they can play up to their normal level," said Zhao.
As the Paris Games approach, China's sharpshooters are poised to shine from day one, aiming to add to their legacy of excellence in international shooting sports.
China's elite rifle and pistol team aims for Olympic glory in Paris
