In the other shooting to take part on day two of the Games in the Brazilian city, Australia's Catherine Skinner marked her Olympic debut by topping the podium in the trap competition to continue her nation's impressive start at the event in Rio.

Zhang came into the 10m air pistol event under pressure to deliver her country's first gold medal of the Games and she duly obliged, recording a total of 199.4 to finish comfortably ahead of Russia's Vitalina Batsarashkina.

The Russian, who was one of the outsiders in the eight-strong final, amassed 197.1 in second place, while Anna Korakaki picked up a medal for Greece with 177.7.

The result for the 25-year-old Chinese shooter marked her maiden gold medal at an international event, prompting wild scenes of celebration once her triumph was confirmed.

"It has been only two years since I joined the national team of China shooting," she said.

“As a new member of China’s national team, I think my main objective is to qualify for the final.

“Since the beginning of the year, I have been in a very good state.

“I remember my coach told me once that the only person who can distract me is myself.”

In the women's trap, Skinner looked far more composed than opponent Natalie Rooney of New Zealand, who appeared to succumb to the pressure of competing for an Olympic gold medal when the two met in the final.

The Australian dropped 12 of the 15 targets, one more than Rooney could muster.

There was also high drama in the bronze medal contest as Corey Cogdell of the United States needed a shoot-off to edge past Fatima Galvez of Spain.

The Spaniard looked set to clinch third place but faltered towards the end, opening the door for Cogdell, who took advantage by hitting the first target before Galvez missed.

"It’s been a rough sort of process, because I keep on being the bridesmaid," Skinner said.

"So I’ve got several silvers, several bronzes, and finally I’ve got the gold."

Two gold medals will again be on offer tomorrow - in the men's 10m air rifle and men's trap events.