▲ The scene from the 2024 Paris Olympics Trials held in Changwon (Source: Korea Shooting Federation)

From March 24 to April 7, the final trials for the Paris Olympic Games National Shooting Team took place at the Changwon International Shooting Range in Gyeongsangnam- do. About 38 athletes participated in 12 events, including rifle (10m air rifle, 50m rifle three positions, team rifle), pistol (25m rapid fire pistol, 25m pistol), and clay shooting (trap). The selection process was intense, as the competitors were competing for qualifying spots in the Olympic Games, which are held every four years. After five rounds of preliminaries and finals for each event, the athletes were ultimately selected as members of the national team based on the sum of their top four scores.

In this competition, the performances of the rookies were particularly outstanding. In the men's 10m air rifle event, KT Shooting Team’s Park Ha- jun secured the first place overall and was confirmed as a member of the national team. He solidified his “elite” title with a total score of 2529.1 points (an average of 632.28 points). Recently, he has rapidly gained attention through consistent effort and training. His achievements include a third place at the 2023 National Sports Festival, a victory at the 2022 National University Sports Festival, and a second place at the 2021 National University Sports Festival. These accomplishments prove that he is a promising shooter. Ban Hyo- jin, who competed in the women's 10m air rifle, is also a rising star. She was the only high school student among the 38 competitors in the Olympic trials. Ban Hyo- jin has progressed rapidly, achieving remarkable results in major domestic and international competitions based on her astonishing concentration and accuracy. Notably, she became the youngest nominee to be selected for the national team by winning the National Sports Festival in 2023. She secured the overall first place with a total of 2530.6 points in four events and became a member of the national team.

The intense competition drew attention with its dramatic matches. Particularly in the women's 50m rifle three positions, Lee Eun- seo and Kim Min- jung fought closely until the end. In the end, Lee Eun- seo won by a slim margin of 0.1 points in the final shot, earning enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. Thus, the selection for the 2024 Paris Olympics national shooting team was a competition that showed the emergence of new talents and intense battles that overturned predictions. The seasoned performance of the veterans and the boldness of the rookies provided an exhilarating experience for the spectators.

However, there is one piece of disappointing news. Jin Jong- oh, the shooter whom many remember as the “Shooting Emperor,” will not be seen at this Olympic Games. He has had an illustrious career thus far with a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Although he had expressed his intention to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, he announced his retirement from active competition in March, saying, "Although I don't have presbyopia or hand tremors, which are fatal for shooters, I thought it was time for me to step down."

During the trials, the citizens of Changwon visited the stadium to enthusiastically support the athletes, and the local media also heightened interest with full coverage of the trials. This attention played a crucial role in further establishing Changwon as a prestigious city for shooting. The hosting of this selection event has solidified Changwon's status as a leading city for shooting in Korea. This was evident as many people visited Changwon to watch the trials, and YouTube streaming views exceeded an average of 1,000 views. The Korean National Shooting Team is aiming to win medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with much interest and expectation focused on the performances of the new athletes. The national team is currently dedicating themselves to training with strong will and passion, and the coaching staff is also working hard on adjusting the athletes' conditions. It is hoped that all athletes participating in the Olympics will be able to perform at their best without injury and finish the competition safely.

By Jung-hyun, editor-in-chief  jhgongju0903@gmail.com

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