Tokyo Olympics 2020: Day Four Predictions for Shooting 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Rifle Mixed Events

Shooting events at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 have been on since day one. To date, six final events have been conducted and China is leading the medal tally in the sport. While the shooting powerhouse USA has made a strong comeback with three consecutive gold medals.

On day four a new shooting event, the mixed team event will make its debut in 10m air rifle and 10m air pistol disciplines. The inclusion was done to make mega-quadrennial games more gender-neutral.

The match is expected to be significantly more intense as men and women compete together. Here are the predictions for the new events.

10m Air Pistol Mixed event at Tokyo Olympics 2020

The 10m air pistol event will have two qualification rounds and the top two will compete for gold and silver medal, while 3rd and 4th will compete for bronze. This is the first time this event has been included in the Olympics program.

Individual men’s and women’s 10m events have already taken place. Interestingly, most individual match winners will compete in the mixed events.

In the men’s event, Iran’s Javad Foroughi, who clinched the gold medal with a good margin has been dominating the 10m event in 2021. Foroughi, with his excellent form, will pair up with Iran’s Haniyeh Rostamiyan to add up to his gold medal count.

China is the dominator of the 10m events, and there is a very strong chance they will be the 10m air pistol mixed event’s winner too. The nation is sending two pairs to compete.

Tokyo Olympics 2020, bronze medalists in respective individual events, Jiang Ranxin and Wei Pang(China) will pair up. The duo has a realistic chance at winning gold, as they both are in excellent forms in Tokyo.

While the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in the women’s event representing ROC Vitalina Batsarashkina will pair up with Artem Chernousov. However, Artem couldn’t reach the finals during his individual event and will hope to redeem the loss in the mixed event.

Notably, India’s maiden Olympic players Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary hold the world record in the mixed event. The duo could not reach the podium in mixed events, but together they have never failed to date at the world cups.

Others who can win: Germany, Ukraine, South Korea, and Serbia

10m Air Rifle Mixed Event

The 10m air rifle mixed event will also be contested for the first time at the mega-quadrennial games. The rifle event will also have two qualification rounds, followed by the final event.

Shooting powerhouse China has been terrific in this event, clinching three medals out of six. Two Chinese pairs will compete in the 10m air rifle mixed match.

Tokyo Olympics individual gold medalist Qian Yang and bronze medalist Horan Yang will pair up. The duo will be the dominant force as they are at the peak of their performances.

Team USA will also send two pair-ups at this event. USA’s rifle shooter Will Shaner, who clinched the gold medal in the men’s individual event and will join Alison Marie to grab the gold.

While another strong duo of Lucas Kozeniesky and Mary Tucker also has a realistic chance at a podium finish.

World Champion Hungary’s Istvan Peni, who finished at 5th in the men’s event, will pair up with Eszter Meszaros. If the pair fares well, they can reach the podium if not gold. However, the team China and USA seem too strong to beat this year with their formidable forms.

Others who can win: Serbia, Japan, Croatia

With the 10m air mixed events competed on 27th, the 10m shooting events will be concluded. The shotgun events have kick-started and the USA has clean swept the gold medals. The small-bore and 25m events will also begin in a few days.

Read More: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Day Two Medal Tally Update- China and Japan Lead