Ban Hyo-jin (Korean: 반효진; born 20 September 2007[1]) is a South Korean sport shooter. She qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics and set an Olympic record in the women's 10 metre air rifle qualification.[2]

Ban Hyo-jin
Personal information
Born (2007-09-20) September 20, 2007 (age 16)
EducationDaegu Physical Education High School
Sport
Country South Korea
SportSport shooting
Event10 metre air rifle
Medal record
Women's Shooting
Representing  South Korea
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2024 Munich 10m air rifle
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 10m air rifle

Early life

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Ban was born in 2007.[3] Growing up in Daegu, she attended Daegu Dongwon Middle School [ko], but did not begin shooting until 2021, previously having participated in taekwondo.[4][5] In July 2021, a friend suggested trying out for the school shooting team.[3] She made the team and after two weeks, "realize[d] she did have some talent in shooting."[5] She watched as the 2021 Tokyo Olympics took place, but according to YNA, "Not once did she think then she would be competing at an Olympic Games herself just three years later."[5]

Career

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Two months after first trying out the sport, Ban won the gold medal at a tournament in Daegu.[5] In April 2023, Ban, now attending Daegu Physical Education High School, won the silver medal at the national girls high school championships in the air rifle event.[6] Later that year, she participated at the Asian Youth Shooting Championships and won silver in the team event.[7] In 2024, Ban competed at the Korean Olympic trials, "just to gain some competition experience": according to YNA, "Her initial objective was to compete against some veteran shooters this year and then push for a spot on the national team for the 2025 season."[5] However, she ended up winning the competition in a surprise, thus qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in the mixed 10 metre air rifle and individual 10 metre air rifle events.[3][5]

Ban became the youngest member of the 2024 South Korean Olympic team.[8] Prior to the Olympics, she competed at the 2024 ISSF World Cup: although she finished 42nd in the Baku, Azerbaijan, tournament, she then participated in the Munich, Germany, tournament and won a silver medal in the individual 10 metre air rifle event.[9] In the qualification round of the Olympics in the individual 10 m air rifle, Ban set the all-time Olympic record with a score of 634.5, securing her a place in the finals.[10][11][12][13]

References

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  1. ^ "Profile Of Ban hyo-jin at International Shooting Sport Federation". www.issf-sports.org. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  2. ^ "Final ARW at the 2024 World Cup In Munich" (PDF). issf-sports.org. 3 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "도쿄 올림픽 때 사격 시작한 '고교생 사수' 반효진, 제2의 강초현·여갑순 노린다" ['High school shooter' Ban Hyo-jin, who started shooting at the Tokyo Olympics, aims for the next Kang Cho-hyun and Yeo Gap-soon]. News1.kr (in Korean). 28 May 2024.
  4. ^ Lee, Je-hoon (13 May 2024). "24년 만에 여고생 총잡이 메달을 노린다…사격 공기소총 국가대표 반효진 "올림픽에서 강초현이나 여갑순 언니처럼 되고 싶다"" [After 24 years, a high school girl gunfighter aims for a medal... Ban Hyo-jin, national shooting air rifle representative, “I want to be like Kang Cho-hyun and Yeo Gap-soon at the Olympics.”]. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean).
  5. ^ a b c d e f Yoo, Jee-ho (27 May 2024). "Olympic-bound teen rifle shooter takes aim at fame". Yonhap News Agency.
  6. ^ Kim, Eun-kyung (10 April 2023). "제37회 문화체육관광부장관기 전국체육고등학교 여고부 '공기소총'...엄지유' 금메달" [37th Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism National Sports High School Girls' High School 'Air Rifle'...Um Ji-yu's Gold Medal]. NewsFreeZone.co.kr (in Korean).
  7. ^ "[제15회 창원 아시아사격선수권] 이은서, 50m 소총 복사 2관왕 '명중'" [[15th Changwon Asian Shooting Championships] Lee Eun-seo wins 2 gold medals in 50m rifle prone event]. Knnews.co.kr (in Korean). 29 October 2023.
  8. ^ Ahn, Ho-geun (28 July 2024). "'한국 최연소 선수인데' 사격 반효진, '올림픽 新' 쐈다... 공기소총 10m 결선행 [파리 2024]" [Shooter Ban Hyo-jin, 'Korea's youngest athlete', made 'Olympic new' shot... 10m air rifle finals [Paris 2024]]. news.mt.co.kr (in Korean).
  9. ^ Kim, Jihan (4 June 2024). "Ban Hyo-jin (Daegu Athletic High School), a 17-year-old high school girl, won a silver medal at the Munich Shooting World Cup". Maeil Business Newspaper.
  10. ^ Kim, Jihan (28 July 2024). "Ban Hyo-jin, a high school student gunman, reached the final round of the women's 10m individual shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics". Maeil Business Newspaper.
  11. ^ "(Olympics) Teen rifle shooter Ban Hyo-jin sets Olympic record in qualification". Yonhap News Agency. 28 July 2024.
  12. ^ Jeong, Min-ha. "'韓 선수단 최연소' 반효진 10m 공기소총 올림픽 신기록" [Ban Hyo-jin, the youngest member of the Korean team, sets a new Olympic record in the 10m air rifle]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean).
  13. ^ Ansari, Aarish (28 July 2024). "Olympic records in shooting events - gunning for glory". Olympics.com. Retrieved 28 July 2024.