Shooter Ban Hyo-jin Aims for Historic 'Grand Slam' at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Ban Hyo-jin, a rising star in South Korean shooting, is poised to make history at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Having already secured individual gold medals at the Paris Olympics and the 2025 ISSF World Championships, the 18-year-old prodigy is now aiming for a 'Grand Slam' in the women's 10m air rifle event. This achievement would mark her as the first South Korean woman to conquer all three major international competitions individually.

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Achieving this would make her the first South Korean woman to win individual gold medals at the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games.

Ban's journey to this potential historic feat has not been without challenges. She is currently contending with hip and back pain, which leads to cramping in her left leg during her shooting stance. To mitigate this, she has been diligently managing her condition, gradually reducing the duration of the cramps. Her preparation includes a plan to temporarily leave the national training center in Jincheon to focus exclusively on treatment at a hospital in Daegu leading up to the Asian Games.

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She has already secured gold at the Paris Olympics and the 2025 ISSF World Championships in Cairo.

South Korean shooting boasts a rich legacy at the Asian Games, having secured at least one gold medal in every edition since the 1962 Jakarta Games. While the team faced strong competition from host China in the previous Hangzhou Games, they demonstrated a remarkable resurgence at the Paris Olympics, securing three gold and three silver medals, their best-ever Olympic performance. For the Aichi-Nagoya Games, the national team has set an ambitious target of winning five gold, nine silver, and five bronze medals.

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The only South Korean shooter to achieve an individual Grand Slam previously was Lee Eun-chul.

Ban is not the only medal hopeful. Alongside her, fellow Paris Olympic gold medalists Oh Ye-jin (women's 10m air pistol) and Yang Ji-in (25m pistol) are also considered strong contenders for gold. The team's performance at the upcoming Asian Games, running from September 20 to October 1, will feature competition for 28 gold medals across various shooting disciplines.

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She is currently battling hip and back pain, which causes her left leg to cramp during her shooting stance.