DPR Korea won its greatest victory at the 11th Asian Shooting Games on Tuesday, as shooters Park Jong Ran and Ri Hyon Ok stormed both the gold and bronze medals of the women's skeet with 93 and 91 hits respectively.
The 37-year-old Park, co-champion of the event with Chinese shooter Zhang Shan at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, topped in the qualification round with 70 hits and took the lead all the way in the 25-shot final by scoring 23.
She also got the Olympic quota place of this event for DPR Korea.
"I would give this victory to our great leader Kim Jong-il," she said, adding that she has big pressure in the event.
"The greatest pressure is that we must bring back this quota place for our country and our people," noted her coach.
Park's teammate, 37-year-old Ri shared the same qualification score of 67 hits with Chinese athletes Wei Ning and Yu Xiumin. But Wei's miss in the first shot pulled her behind, while Yu and Ri, who both downed 24 plates, were forced into a shoot-off.
In the shoot-off, the Chinese girl was beaten for missing one target of the first pair and dropped to the fourth.
Another shoot-off started between Wei Ning and the third DPR Korean athlete Kim Myong Hwa, who were recorded the same 90 hits as total. The scene was recognized as a repeat of the competition in Doha Asian Games, when the chasing Kim outscored Wei with four to three.
Coincidentally, the score reappeared this time, except that Wei became the winner, edging Kim to the sixth place.
"The result today is not satisfactory," said Chinese coach Sun Shengwei, "the wind is an important factor, and we should learn from the DPR Korean shooters of their devotion."
"The three DPR Korean shooters in this event are both experienced and they did well this time," Sun said, "they are among our major rivals in the discipline."
The silver was left to Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit from Thailand, who shot down 92 birds.
"I believe I did well this time," said the 21-year-old shooter, "of course I want the gold medal, but this performance would become my good memory as well. I would be better next time."
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