The ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol 2025 exploded with action on its opening day, as the People’s Republic of China’s Yao Qianxun delivered a breathtaking performance to claim the gold medal in the Women’s 50m Pistol event, simultaneously setting a new World Record.
The Chinese youngster, aged 20, compiled an incredible score of 550, a mark that instantly entered the history books of international shooting sports.
The final was one of the most thrilling contests of the championship, culminating in a dramatic finish:
Joint Record Score: Yao Qianxun tied the score with Azerbaijan’s Nigar Nasirova, with both women achieving the new world-best mark of 550 points.
Gold by Center Hits: The gold medal was ultimately decided on countback based on the number of perfect center hits (X). Yao’s superior accuracy gave her the edge, with 8x to Nasirova’s 7x. Nasirova was awarded the silver medal, sharing the distinction of co-setting the new world record score.
Junior Record: Yao’s 550 score also stands as the outright Junior World Record, underscoring her phenomenal talent and potential for future dominance.
The victory marks a breakthrough moment for Yao Qianxun, who secured her first major individual senior title at the prestigious World Championship event. Her gold medal and world record performance immediately establish her as one of the brightest talents in the shooting world.
