Competing against compatriot Lin Junmin in the final, Lao secured his first ISSF gold medal with an unbeatable five-hit series after the match had gone to a shoot-off.

His total tally of 31+5 hits bettered that of first-time participant Lin, who had to settle for silver with 31+3.

"I am really happy about this medal," Lao said.

"It qualifies me for the 2017 ISSF World Cup Final and that’s a nice achievement.

"I am really proud of sharing the podium with my team-mate Lin.

"This is China’s third gold medal in two days.

"I think this proves we are a strong and very united team."

Lao moved into the lead at the start of the final, registering a four-hit and two five-hit series consecutively, and defended his position until the last series when Lin levelled at 31 hits to set up what proved to be an unsuccessful shoot-off. 

Azerbaijan’s Ruslan Lunev secured the bronze with 23 hits out of 35, dropping out of the elimination-style match after the seventh series.

The 27-year-old’s medal was the first won in the event by an Azerbaijani at world level.

There was also success today for Italy as team-mates Simone D’Ambrosio and Giovanni Pellielo claimed the respective gold and silver medals in the men’s trap final.

D’Ambrosio hit 45 targets out of 50 in the his first senior final, beating four-time Olympic medallist Pellielo by a margin of two.

Both athletes were tied upto the last series, when Pellielo missed two out of his last five targets.

"It’s overwhelming," said D’Ambrosio.

"Not only is this my first final among the seniors, but I had to face the best trap shooter of the world, Pellielo.

"It has been a tough competition, here in New Delhi.

"But luckily I made it.

"Now I have to book another trip to India; I qualified for the World Cup Final, that will take place here in October."

Veteran Pellielo’s runners-up finish ensured him a 16^th World Cup podium having participated in 45 stages since 1990.

It will most likely qualify the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist for the 2017 ISSF World Cup Final, a competition he has already won seven times - more than anybody else in shotgun events.

Today’s bronze went to 2010 world champion Alberto Fernandez of Spain, who closed the round with 33 hits to collect his seventh World Cup medal.

Action in New Delhi is due to continue tomorrow when medallists in the women’s 50m rifle three positions and men’s double trap events are set to be decided.