BEIJING // Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic derailed host China's hopes of a golden start to the Olympics when she won the first gold medal on Saturday with a convincing victory in the women's 10m air rifle event. Emmons, who met and married the US shooter Matt Emmons after winning bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, equalled a world record score of 400 in the qualification round and was near flawless in the final round to win the gold medal with a score of 503.5 ? a new Olympic record.
Du Li of China wept after finishing a disappointing fifth. She had won the gold medal in Athens and had been favourite at the Olympics at home. "I was so nervous. I think it was the hardest I have ever shot. During the match and during the final, it was just so hard," said Emmons. "You could see us running around. We didn't have much time after the (qualifying) match and before the final. Our heart rate was so high. I'm seriously happy it is over and I hold gold."
Lioubov Galkina of Russia won the silver medal with a score of 502.1. She had also won silver in Athens. Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia took bronze with 500.9. Emmons hit the bullseye on all 40 of her qualifying round shots for a perfect 400 score and took a small, but vital, lead into the finals. Du had also been perfect before getting nine on her 34th shot in qualifying to finish with 399 points. She seemed dejected after that and struggled in the final round.
*Reuters
