CAIRO - China's youthful shooting team capped a dominant campaign at the 2025 ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol in Cairo with 12 gold, seven silver, and two bronze medals, topping the medal table well ahead of South Korea and India at the start of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
China fielded a 21-member squad in Cairo, with only three athletes born before 2000. The team delivered across both Olympic and non-Olympic events and set five world records in total.
China excelled in non-Olympic team events, winning six gold medals and setting four new team world records, including in the men's 10-meter air rifle and women's 10-meter air pistol team competitions.
Some Olympic events featured all-Chinese clashes, with Wang Zifei and Sheng Lihao taking gold ahead of Peng Xinlu and Wang Honghao in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team final.
Meanwhile, in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team, rising star Yao Qianxun and partner Hu Kai held off a strong Indian duo to secure another title for China.
Yao, 20, emerged as one of the standout performers, collecting six golds and two silvers in major disciplines of the Cairo championship that concluded Monday.
"I've been here before in 2022 to compete in the junior division. Every match is a chance to learn. Big events or small ones, I just try to do my job, focus on the process and make the most of the opportunity," Yao told Xinhua after one of her victories.
Yao's coach Yang Kaimei praised her work ethic and physical preparation amid a heavy competition load, noting that improved fitness has been a key factor in Yao's progress this year.
"Since arriving in Egypt, Yao hardly had any rest. We even wanted her to take a break, but she still wanted to train after the matches," Yang told Xinhua.
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In the men's 50-meter rifle three positions, reigning Olympic champion Liu Yukun delivered one of the most dramatic wins of the championship, edging India's Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar by just 0.2 points to clinch his first World Championship title in the event.
"Foreign shooters, especially those from India and Europe, did put some pressure on me. They're all familiar rivals, but they've clearly improved," Liu told Xinhua after the final.
"I just told myself to focus and shoot a 10. If my opponent did better, he deserved to win. Whoever performs better should take the title," he added.
Behind the standout names, coaches highlighted how the team used Cairo as a testing ground for the new Olympic cycle.
National team pistol leader Du Li said China has achieved breakthroughs in some events but still faces challenges in preparing for Los Angeles 2028, particularly in building depth across some events.
"In certain disciplines, only one athlete currently stands out. We haven't yet formed a group advantage in the finals, and several team events did not win gold, which shows we still lack overall strength and depth in some areas," Du told Xinhua.
Du explained that many young athletes were selected after showing well at local competitions despite never having competed internationally before, "so this World Championship was a big challenge for them."
Although medals are important, she said, "letting young athletes gain experience at big events is just as important," she emphasized.
Despite China's dominance in Cairo, Du warned that international rivals are closing the gap, pointing to young talents from other countries, such as South Korea, India, and Iran, who pushed Chinese athletes deep into contests in Cairo.
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Additionally, some gaps remain across the Olympic program, as China has yet to produce young contenders in the men's 25-meter rapid fire pistol and women's 50-meter rifle three positions events.
