China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
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China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)

China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won the first gold medal of the Paris Games on Saturday in the 10 meters air rifle mixed team event.

Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun of South Korea claimed silver and Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan were awarded bronze.

Three years after Yang Qian and Yang Haoran won the gold in Tokyo, compatriots Huang and Sheng made sure China retained it.

The reigning world champions topped the qualifying round ahead of their Korean rivals at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

The gold medal round was not really a cakewalk though despite them racing to a 14-8 lead after the first 11 shots.

Keum and Park staged a late comeback to reduce the gap at 14-12 but the Chinese pair prevailed 16-12 in the end.

Le and Satpayev gave Kazakhstan their first medal of the Paris Games with a 17-5 romp against the German pair of Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich.



Salah Wins Soccer Writers’ ‘Footballer of the Year’ Award in England for Record-tying 3rd Time 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
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Salah Wins Soccer Writers’ ‘Footballer of the Year’ Award in England for Record-tying 3rd Time 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was voted “Footballer of the Year” in England by soccer writers for a record-tying third time Friday, while Arsenal striker Alessia Russo won the women’s award.

Salah previously won the award, handed out by the Football Writers’ Association, in 2018 and 2022. Arsenal great Thierry Henry is the only other player to have captured it three times.

The FWA’s accolade is the oldest individual soccer award in the world. It was first awarded in 1948.

The FWA said Salah won 90% of the votes cast by more than 900 members, making it the “biggest winning margin this century.” Teammate Virgil van Dijk was second and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was third.

Salah has the most goals (28) and assists (18) in the Premier League this season and played a key role in Liverpool winning the title for the second time in five years.

Russo finished ahead of Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw and Arsenal teammate Mariona Caldentey, with FWA chair John Cross saying Russo’s performances in the Women's Champions League have helped her stand out.

Arsenal, which is second in the Women’s Super League, has reached the Champions League final after beating eight-time winner Lyon in the semifinals and will play Barcelona in the title match.