During the opening ceremony of the ISSF World Cup Finals held in New Delhi on October 14, the International Shooting Sport Federation announced its annual awards. Chinese shooter Liu Yukun was honored as the Best Male Athlete of the Year, while South Korea’s Yang Jirun received the award for Best Female Athlete.
Out of six finalists for the Best Male Athlete award, four were from China. Alongside Liu, the list included several standout competitors such as Shengdai Lihao, who won gold at the Paris Olympics, as well as Xie Yu and Li Yuehong. Ultimately, Liu emerged as the top choice among these talented athletes.
This season, Liu has consistently broken records across various competitions. In May, during the World Cup in Baku, he shattered the world record in the 50m 3 positions rifle final with a score of 467.3, earning a gold medal. Just two days later, he surpassed himself again with a score of 468.9, setting another world record.
At the Paris Olympics, Liu set a new Olympic qualifying record with a score of 594 in the 50m 3 positions rifle qualification round. In the final, despite trailing in both the kneeling and prone stages, he made a remarkable comeback during the standing segment, shooting 10.2 and 10.9 on his final two shots to win with a total of 463.6.
Reflecting on his recognition as the Best Athlete of the Year, Liu expressed his excitement, saying, “I am truly happy, as it acknowledges the hard work I’ve put in over the year. I also feel extremely honored and want to take this opportunity to thank my family, coach, teammates, and everyone who has supported me, especially my country.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming men’s 50m rifle 3 positions competition on October 16, Liu stated that his goals will depend on his performance at the time.
As the most significant international competition since the Paris Olympics, China’s shooting team has sent its full roster, featuring athletes like Sheng Lihao, Huang Yuting, Xie Yu, and Li Yuehong, all aiming to conclude the season on a high note with outstanding results.
