China takes gold, silver in mixed team events at ISSF World Cup in Munich

MUNICH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shooters Yao Qianxun and Hu Kai clinched the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal, while Wang Zifei and Sheng Lihao added a silver in the 10m air rifle mixed team as the ISSF World Cup Munich leg concluded on Friday.

Wang and Sheng, world record holders in their respective individual event, led the qualification round with a new world record score of 635.9 points, edging the previous mark by 0.1. The pair then delivered a solid performance in the final but fell short against India's Arya Borse and Arjun Babuta, settling for silver.

Despite taking two points in the opening round, the Chinese duo slipped to 14-3, and ultimately lost 17-7 as the Indian pair produced a string of high 10s to secure the win. Jeanette Hegg Duestad and Jon-Hermann Hegg of Norway claimed the bronze medal.

Wang Zifei remained a standout performer throughout the week. The 18-year-old had earlier secured gold in the women's 10m air rifle event, setting new junior and overall qualification world records, and staying unbeaten on the World Cup circuit in the event this season. Sheng added to his bronze medal from the men's individual competition on Thursday.

In the pistol mixed team event, Yao and Hu put on a commanding display in the pistol final, racing to an 8-0 lead and holding off a brief challenge to wrap up a convincing 16-4 victory over Elmira Karapetyan and Benik Khlghatyan of Armenia.

It marked the fourth World Cup gold for Hu, who just collected his third consecutive victory in the individual event on Tuesday. Yao added to her medal tally after winning bronze in women's individual event on Friday.

Germany's Doreen Vennekamp and Christian Reitz defeated Olympic champions Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec of Serbia 17-13 in the bronze medal match.

The mixed team medals cemented China's top position on the medal standings with four golds, one silver, and two bronze medals. Norway and India were in the second and third place, each with two gold medals.

The rifle and pistol World Cup will next move to Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, from September 7 to 15. ■