China’s shooting duo Qi Ying and Zhang Zixi made history on Sunday by clinching their nation’s first mixed team trap gold at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Olympic silver medalist Qi Ying, after narrowly missing out on the men’s trap final, teamed up with the 19-year-old rising star Zhang Zixi for the mixed team event. Demonstrating exceptional skill and teamwork, the pair qualified second, just behind Poland’s Tomasz Pasierbski and Sandra Bernal.
The Chinese duo faced a tense shootoff against Türkiye’s Tolga Tuncer and Rumeysa Pelin Kaya to secure their spot in the final. In a thrilling match, both teams displayed remarkable accuracy, but Qi and Zhang persevered to reach the decider.
The final was a nail-biter. Poland took an early lead after a flawless round from Pasierbski, putting pressure on the Chinese team. However, world champion Qi Ying responded with his own perfect fourth round, shifting the momentum and pushing China ahead with a score of 40-34.
Maintaining their composure, Qi and Zhang held off the Polish challenge to clinch the gold medal with a final score of 42-39. Their victory marks a significant milestone for China in the mixed team trap event at the World Cup.
“We are thrilled to bring home this gold medal,” said Qi Ying after the match. “Our teamwork and determination paid off against strong competitors.”
The achievement highlights China’s growing prominence in shooting sports on the world stage and sets an inspiring example for aspiring athletes.
