Peng, 20, won a thrilling 10 metres air rifle battle with 19-year-old team-mate Shi Mengyao at the Gabala Shooting Club, located 200 kilometres outside Azerbaijan's capital Baku.

Although a year older, Peng is less experienced than an opponent ranked fifth in the world.

A 24th and final shot of 10.4 by Shi brought her level with Peng's final score of 248.1 points.

It was Peng who held her nerve in the shoot-off with a score of 9.9 points to seal gold as her opponent could only manage 9.5.

Singapore’s Jasmine Ser Xiang Wei completed the podium with bronze on a score of 225.7 points.

China were narrowly defeated in the first final of the day as Milutin Stefanovic claimed the corresponding men's title.

The 32-year-old Serbian, winner of a European Championship gold medal in the rifle mixed team earlier this year, won after a tie-break against China's first-time finalist Yao Yuncong.

Both scored 250.9 points after 24 shots to equal the world record set by Russia's Sergey Kamenskiy in Munich last month.

Stefanovic held his nerve in the shoot-off to score 10.0 points and better Yao's 9.6.

"It feels great to be back atop the podium," said Stefanovic.

"The level of our shooting was pretty high, it's been pretty high for the whole match. 

"And the fact that we both equalled the world record is there to prove it."

István Péni of Hungary scored 229.4 to take the bronze medal.

Finals are due to take place tomorrow in the men's 50m pistol and the women's 25m pistol.