The Shooting Range of the Beijing Olympics has witnessed a change of confrontation from the traditional Two Poles, Russia and China, to the emerging Three Kingdoms including the rising United States.

Before the Olympics, people expected a wrestling between two shooting powerhouses China and Russia, who are always nip and tuck in international shooting events. At the Athens Olympics, they ranked first and second on the event's medal tally, with Russia 4-2-3 and China 3-4-3.

However, this time fans of Russian shooters are disappointed.

As the host China swept five gold, two silver and one bronze medals to make history, Russia just collected two silver and two bronze medals, without a single gold.

The United States, posting a 2-2-2 record, trailed China to be ranked as second on the medal list.

"The major reason for our debacle is lack of young talents," said Oleg Lapkin, 67-year-old head coach of the Russian shooting squad.

Indeed, a glimpse of the Chinese and American medalists would prove the explanation of the silver-haired old man, who had led teams to eight Olympics and is to retire next January.

Among China's five gold medalists in shooting events, four are below or just 30 years old, including 24-year-old Guo Wenjun in women's 10-meter air pistol, 22-year-old Pang Wei in men's 10-meter air pistol, 26-year-old Du Li in women's 50-meter rifle three positions and Chen Ying in women's 25-meter pistol, who will turn 31 this November.

Although 24-year-old world champion Zhu Qinan just won a silver this time in men's 10-meter air rifle, the boy, who admitted being nervous in the final, had the ability to surpass world record in the event and vowed to nip the elusive Olympic gold next time.

"The young people who achieved good results this time are a feature of Chinese shooting team at this Olympics," said Wang Yifu, Chinese shooting head coach.

Situation was similar for the American shooting team.

Vincent Hancock, a debutant who seized the gold medal in men's skeet and holds the world record of the discipline was just a 19-year-old teenager.

"Hancock is not only talented, he is a genius," said Chinese veteran shooter Zhang Shan, gold medalist in skeet at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

The famous Matthew Emmons, with one Olympic gold from Athens and a silver he just snatched in men's 50-meter rifle prone, lost his second Olympic gold due to a mistake.

He vowed to compete in London. By then, the talented young man would be just 31.

Just 29 years' old, Kimberly Rhode is already a four-time Olympian with a collection of two gold, one silver and a bronze.

The silver was gained this time in women's skeet, which the double trap shooter just picked up in 2006.

"Young people are our future," said Lloyd Woodhouse, coach with the American shooting team, "they are energetic and dedicated."

Besides, young shooters from other countries also had impressive performances on the Beijing Olympic arena.

People would remember the name Katerina Emmons, although the Czech markswoman Kurkova began using this name only since 2006, when she married American Matthew Emmons.

In the fierce battle of women's 10-meter air rifle for the first Olympic gold, the 25-year-old outscored a host of ace shooters including left-hand German world record holder Sonja Pfeilschifter, Chinese defending champion Du Li and famous Russian shooter Lioubov Galkina, improving the Olympic record by 1.5 points to 503.5.

People would remember the baby-faced South Korean marksman Kim Jong-oh, the 29-year-old who clinched a gold and a silver in pistol events. Four years ago he planned to propose with an Olympic gold from Athens but just got a silver, while this time, when his wife was waiting outside, he finally fulfilled his wish, with bonus.

The competition was full of suspension. Jin not only performed well technically, but well controlled his mind.

People would remember the bespectacled Indian Abhinav Bindra who won the men's 10-meter air rifle title after a hot chase on Monday, presenting his country first gold medal at the Beijing Games, and also its first individual title in Olympic history.

With all his shots above 10 point, the 26-year-old impressed audiences with his stable performance to beat the leading finalist who was two points ahead, as well as Chinese defending champion Zhu Qinan. "I was not thinking too much. I just tried to shoot well," said the undaunted youngster.

People would also remember German shooter Christian Reitz, although his achievement was just a bronze in men's 25-meter rapid fire pistol.

Just 21 years old, he had bettered the world record held by "shooting machine" Ralf Schumann earlier this year from 790.0 points to a daunting 794.0 points. To Reitz, Schumann used to be an idol whose competitions he watched on television. This time, he took the advice from his compatriot to develop technique. Who knows if the boy would grow up into another Schumann?

Turning back to the Russian team, although there were 12 shooters entered finals of the shooting events, the same as Chinese team and one more than the American squad, what people saw were still the old faces.

Galkina gave her country a silver from air rifle event but didn't got medals in three positions. "I've tried my best," said the 35-year-old who gave birth to a boy last November. "I've just given birth so I am not in very good shape."

Vladimir Isakov had a shoot-off with a Ukraine shooter in men's 50-meter pistol to be ranked fourth, before give a bronze as Kim Jong-su from DPR Korea was found doping. While the hopeful Mikhail Nestruew who succumbed to Chinese veteran shooter Wang Yifu at Athens Games after the last single shot was ranked 24th in the qualification and failed to advance into the final.

Maybe the only eye-catching Russian young shooter was 21-year-old debutant Leonid Ekimov. Before his last series in 25-meter rapid fire pistol final, he needed a 50.7 to be crowned. But the boy seemed to be out of gear at last and got only a 48.4, plunging to the fourth.

However, people should take note that major discipline of the marksman was 10-meter air rifle, who was asked to replace Sydney champion Sergai Alifirenko shortly before their departure to Beijing, as the latter was plagued by eye illness.

"He is a rising star," Lapkin said. "But we have few such talents."

Source:Xinhua