Kim Seung-youn Hanwha chairman

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn Sunday called the coach of Korean shooter Jin Jong-oh to congratulate him on Jin’s Olympic gold medal in the men’s 10-meter air pistol final at the Summer Games in London.

Jin came to London as one of the favorites, having won the Asian Championship earlier this year. He won the silver medal in the same event in Beijing four years ago as well as the gold in the 50-meter competition. Hanwha has been a prominent corporate backer of the competitive shooting scene in Korea, with group senior advisor Kim Jeong doubling as the head of the Korean Shooting Federation.

``Kim called Byeong Gyeong-soo, the head coach of Korea’s shooting team, to congratulate him on Jin winning the first gold for Korea in the London Olympics,’’ Hanwha said in a statement.

Jin Jong-oh Shooting gold medalist

The company quoted Kim as saying: ``It’s good that (Jin) won Korea’s first gold and brought happiness to Korean people at a time when the economy has been tough. Kim’s efforts warrant particular acclaim because he also won a gold medal in the Beijing Games. I will continue to do my part in supporting Korea’s shooting athletes.’’

In the final held at Royal Artillery Barracks, Jin fired 100.2 points. Combined with his qualification score of 588, the 32-year-old took the gold with 688.2 points.

Luca Tesconi of Italy won the silver, after managing 685.8 points in total, with 101.8 points in the final and 584 in qualification. Andrija Zlatic of Serbia was the third-best qualifier after 585, and added 100.2 points in the final to claim bronze.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr