▲ Cho Jung-du
Shooter Cho Jung-du has kept his promise to present a gold medal to his soon-to-be-born second son by claiming the top of the podium with a new games record.
Cho won the men's 10m air pistol final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games with a score of 241.3 points at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Range in Japan on the 20th, local time.
After finishing the match, he shared that he felt a bit bittersweet because he had gold medals from the Paralympics and the World Championships but not from the Asian Games. He added that he felt amazing to win it this time and planned to bring it back to his second child, who will be born soon.
Cho also won the gold medal in the same event ahead of the birth of his first child at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
His first son, whose fetal nickname at the time was Tdiyong, was born on September 12 of that year.
The fetal nickname of his second son, who will be the recipient of this gold medal, is Ttabong.
His expected birth date is November 11.
Asked about the fetal nickname, he smiled and replied that his wife chose it, adding that she did not like the ideas he suggested.
Cho set out to challenge for a gold medal leaving behind his heavily pregnant wife, just as he did for his first child.
Cho expressed both his gratitude and his apology to his wife for not being able to stay by her side.
He said he always feels sorry and grateful, and that he wants the competition to end quickly so he can go home and see his wife and first son.
His promise to his family was completed with a new games record.
Today's score raised the previous record of 238.6 points set at the 2023 Hangzhou Games by 2.7 points.
Following the world record of 244.4 points he set himself at the Changwon World Championships last month, he has left another milestone.
He also secured South Korea's first-ever gold medal in the Asian Para Games men's 10m air pistol individual event.
This marks the first time in 12 years that South Korean shooting has won a medal in this event, following Seo Young-gyun's bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Games.
Cho showed a surprised reaction when he was told during the interview that he had set a new games record.
He explained that he felt great, adding that records are results that naturally follow when you work hard, so he didn't pay too much attention to them.
A playful rivalry with a teammate added to the joy of the gold medal.
Cho shared that he and Seo Hoon-tae bet with each other on who can win more medals at every competition.
Seo won the mixed 10m air rifle standing yesterday, capturing the South Korean delegation's first gold medal.
Cho added that honestly, because brother Hoon-tae won yesterday, he was a little nervous that he might not win a gold medal this time, but he felt relieved after winning the gold today.
Cho's goal for this competition is to win two gold medals.
He has remaining schedules in the mixed 50m pistol on the 22nd and the mixed 25m rifle on the 23rd.
Cho vowed that his goal this time is to win two titles, and that he will do his best in the 50m pistol to claim his second gold.
(Photo courtesy of the Korean Paralympic Committee, Yonhap News)
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