Eighteen-year-old Chinese shooter Wang Zifei made headlines in Buenos Aires by clinching her first ISSF World Cup gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle event. Her breakthrough victory underscores the emergence of a new talent on the international sports shooting stage.
After a challenging qualification round that left her in third place and 1.7 points behind South Korea's Kwon Eun-ji, Wang delivered a stunning comeback in the final. With consecutive inner-ten shots, she surged into the lead, finishing with an impressive score of 254.1 points — just 0.4 points shy of the world record held by her compatriot Huang Yuting.
Wang's rapid ascent follows her exceptional performances at last year's Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru, where she secured gold in both the women's and mixed team events. Her silver medal finish at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, had already hinted at her potential, which she now fully realizes with this maiden gold medal.
The competition also saw Olympic bronze medalist Audrey Gogniat of Switzerland claiming bronze, while Kwon Eun-ji took home silver. As the event continues with the women's 10m air pistol and men's 25m rapid fire pistol finals, global audiences—from sports enthusiasts and tech innovators to young changemakers and digital nomads—are watching with keen interest.
Wang Zifei's victory is not just a personal triumph; it represents the rising impact of youthful talent on the global sports scene, inspiring a generation that values determination, precision, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
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Teenage markswoman Wang Zifei claims maiden ISSF World Cup gold medal
cgtn.com
