SAEDNEWS: Sareh Javanmardi from Iran has bagged a gold in women’s 10 air pistol SH1 at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
According to SAEDNEWS, In an impressive start to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, Iranian athlete Sareh Javanmardi has clinched her third consecutive gold medal in the women’s P2 10m air pistol SH1 event at the Chateauroux shooting range. This victory continues her legacy as a leading figure in the sport.
Javanmardi, who previously won gold at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, delivered a stellar performance, finishing with a score of 236.8 points, comfortably ahead of Turkiye’s Aysel Ozgan, who scored 231.1 points. Despite the pressure of high expectations, Javanmardi maintained her lead throughout the competition, outshooting her close competitor in the final rounds.
“This was my dream, to win a medal,” said Javanmardi. “I am so tremendously happy to have won my fifth Paralympic medal. There is nothing that can match this, really.”
The 36-year-old athlete, who recently became a mother in July 2023, also shared her thoughts about retirement, hinting that this gold might be her last. “I have a private collection and this will probably be my last medal. I want to retire now. I think I will train my child to follow my lead,” she explained.
Javanmardi’s victory was a special moment, but it was also a significant day for Ozgan, as she earned her first Paralympic medal since debuting in Beijing 2008.
For India, there was further excitement as Rubina Francis took home the bronze medal, marking the first medal for India in the women’s pistol event. She expressed her joy, stating, “This is my first Paralympics medal and I can’t express myself in the right words. I am so excited, I got it finally. It has taken me 10 years to get on the podium.”
In a different event earlier in the day, South Korean Jinho Park won his first Paralympic gold in the men’s R1 10m air rifle standing SH1. Park achieved a Games record score of 249.4 points, outperforming competitors from Kazakhstan and Denmark. “It was the only medal I did not have so now I have achieved everything. I feel fulfilled,” Park said, dedicating his medal to his wife after a year of hard preparation.
The competitions at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre will continue on Sunday, September 1, with more exciting finals scheduled for the day.
Overall, Javanmardi's gold and Francis' bronze brought joy and pride to their respective nations as the Paralympic action unfolds in Paris.
