Czech Emmons leads after qualifying round

By Erik Kirschbaum

BEIJING (Reuters) - Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic equaled a world record score of 400 in the qualification round of the women's 10m air rifle competition on Saturday -- which will be the first medal event of the Olympics.

Emmons, who won bronze in the event in the 2004 Olympics, hit the bullseye on all 40 of her qualifying round shots for a perfect 400 score and will take a small, but crucial, lead into the finals.

Defending Olympic champion Du Li of China got a 9 on her 34th shot but was otherwise perfect and finished with 399 points. Lioubov Galkina of Russia and Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia also scored a 399 and will be within striking range of Emmons.

Emmons, who married U.S. shooter Matt Emmons last year, was previously known as Katerina Kurkova.

Before her final round of 10 shots, she went over to her husband in the crowd for a brief exchange of words. She gave him a kiss and then returned to her shooting lane. Emmons did a little jig in celebration after completing her perfect round.

By contrast, Du looked dejected after her round was completed.