28 Jul 2012

First gold medal goes to China

11:47 pm on 28 July 2012

China has claimed the first gold medal of the London Olympics in the women's shooting.

Yi Siling won the women's 10 metre air rifle at the Royal Artillery Barracks on Saturday.

Yi finished with a winning total of 502.9.

Poland's Sylwia Bogacka, who led for the first half of the final, claimed silver after a costly shot in the eighth round.

Yu Dan of China won bronze with a total of 501.5.

Yi, the world number one, smiled in delight as she scooped what is sure to be the first of many golds for China at the London Games, Reuters reports.

Among those in attendance was International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who clapped from his seat when Yi was confirmed the winner, as Chinese dignitaries around him leapt to their feet in delight.