Brian Jeffrey
On July 28, Trinh Thu Vinh attracted attention as she participated in the women’s 10m air pistol final. The young shooter, born in 2000, stood fourth in the qualifiers, showcasing potential for a medal as she entered the final round with seven other competitors.
The finals consisted of eight shooters firing three rounds, each comprising five shots, to determine the positions. The fourth round established the fifth and sixth positions, while the fifth round decided the fourth place and the bronze medalist. The last two marksmen vied for the gold medal.
In the initial five shots, Trinh Thu Vinh gave a consistent performance, securing the fourth slot with scores of 10.0, 9.2, 9.9, 9.8, and 10.4 points.
In the subsequent round, with scores of 9.5, 10.7, 9.9, 10.6, and 9.4, Thu Vinh climbed to third place. However, from the third round onwards, signs of nervousness affected her performance, resulting in some unexpected scores.
In the fifth round, Korean shooters Oh Ye Jin and Kim Ye Ji maintained the lead, adding pressure on Thu Vinh and India’s Bhaker Manu. Despite her efforts, Thu Vinh, representing the People’s Police unit, concluded with 198.6 points, missing the top three positions and concluding her Olympic campaign.
While not securing a medal, finishing fourth globally in her debut Olympic performance is a notable achievement for the 24-year-old athlete. It’s noteworthy that shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh also finished fourth in the 2012 Olympics before winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.
In the upcoming event at the Paris Olympics, Thu Vinh will compete in the women’s 25m air pistol, with qualifiers set for August 2. Despite it not being her strongest suit, her current performance sparks hope for a potential surprise.
“Congratulations to Thu Vinh for securing the fourth position at the Olympics. Her performance makes us proud,” expressed former head coach Nguyen Thi Nhung.
Thu Vinh began strongly in the initial rounds but succumbed to psychological pressure that hindered her focus, preventing her from achieving optimal scores.
It is vital to acknowledge that Thu Vinh faced formidable rivals. Despite achieving a career-best result, Trinh Thu Vinh needs to elevate her performance further to contend for an Olympic medal.
Throughout the last six shots, Thu Vinh’s highest score was 9.9, without any shots surpassing 10 points. In contrast, Manu Bhaker, the contender ahead of Thu Vinh, had seven shots scoring above 10 points and secured the bronze medal.
The gold medalist, 19-year-old Oh Ye Jin from South Korea, not only won but also broke the Olympic record. Earlier in the qualifiers, the Korean shooter ranked second.
In the decisive round for the gold medal, Oh Ye Jin’s remarkable 10.6-point shot left her compatriot Kim Ye Ji acknowledging the silver medal.
Evidently, aside from enhancing skills and mental toughness, the escalating competition presents a significant challenge to Vietnam’s aspirations of winning shooting medals and excelling in other Olympic sports.
Dai Nam
