 |
|
Jonas Jacobsson celebrates after winning the final of the mixed R6-50m free rifle prone SH1. [Xinhua] |
Legendary shooter Jonas Jacobsson yet again showed his class at the 2008 Paralympic Games. Jacobsson leaves Beijing with three gold medals in hand.
The Swedish shooter looked unbeatable in his first two events, the Men's 10m Air Rifle Standing-SH1 and the Mixed 50m Free Rifle 3x40-SH1, setting world and Paralympic records in both the qualification and the final rounds en route to the gold medals.
However, Jacobsson, who is famed for his accuracy and consistency, surprisingly failed to make the final in his third event, the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone-SH1. He struggled in the first two qualification rounds and lost his chance to defend the gold medal he won at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games by the tiny margin of one point.
He met expectations in his last event, winning the Mixed 50m Free Rifle Prone-SH1 on the last day of the six-day Shooting competition. His Paralympic medal tally now stands at a total of 25 medals - 16 gold medals, one silver medal and eight bronze medals from eight appearances at the Paralympic Games.
Lee Ji-seok of the Republic of Korea was also one of the best shooters at Beijing 2008. Lee was invincible in his two events, the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone-SH2 and the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing-SH2.
Lee's achievement was one of contributing factors of the Republic of Korea's success - it was the most successful country, pocketing a total of nine medals (four gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals) at the Games.
Chinese shooters also lived up to the expectations of their home crowd through their fine performances.
Lin Haiyan gave the host country its first gold medal in Shooting when she won in the Women's 10m Air Pistol-SH1 on Monday, September 8. She was equal first after the qualification round and momentarily lost the lead to Moon Aee-kyung of Republic of Korea in the final. However, the Chinese shooter held her nerve and fought hard to clinch the gold medal.
Zhang Cuiping was one of the most heralded Chinese shooters at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. The 26-year-old competed fiercely at her first Paralympic Games and asserted her preeminence by earning three medals (two silver medals and one bronze medal).
Favorite Li Jianfei also bagged silver in the Mixed 25m Sport Pistol-SH1 on Wednesday, September 10. China's rising star Dong Chao also obtained two bronze medals in the Men's 50m Free Rifle 3x40-SH1 and the Mixed 50m Free Rifle Prone-SH1.
Russian men were dominant in pistol events. Russian pistol shooters, Andrey Lebedinskiy, Sergey Malyshev and Valeriy Ponomarenko all collected medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Ponomarenko won gold in the Men's 10m Air Pistol-SH1 by setting a world and Paralympic record both in the qualification and final rounds on Sunday, September 7. Lebedinskiy also stood on the top of the medal dais with a record score of 774.7 points on Wednesday, September 10.
Russia's young female shooter, Natalia Dalekova, who is just 23 years old, also won bronze in the Women's 10m Air Pistol-SH1 on Monday, September 8.
Libby Kosmala participated in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games as the oldest athlete in the Shooting competition. The 66 year old competed in her 10th Paralympic Games here in Beijing and came fourth in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Stand-SH1 on Sunday, September 7.
Briton Matt Skelhon boosted his confidence for the 2012 London Paralympic Games by grabbing gold in the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone-SH1 on Thursday, September 11.
After six days and 12 events, 12 countries and regions have won at least one medal. The top three countries in the final medal standings are the Republic of Korea, Sweden with four medals (three gold medals and one bronze medal) and Russia with six medals (two gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals).
China came fourth with seven medals (one gold medal, three silver medals and three bronze medals) and it was ranked second for the total amount of medals won.
(BOCOG September 12, 2008)