Teenager secures China Rio 2016 Olympic quota place in first-ever ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup final

China's Zhang Bowen claimed victory in the men's 50m pistol final to secure an Olympic quota place for Rio 2016 ©ISSF

Chinese teenager Zhang Bowen struck gold in the men’s 50 metres pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Changwon, securing his country a Olympic quota place for Rio 2016.

The 18-year-old first-time finalist beat another young finalist, 19-year-old Park Daehun from hosts South Korea, with a score of 192.4 points.

Despite starting the final with a disappointing 8.9-point shot, Zhang begun climbing the scoreboard after zeroing in and moved gradually closer to Park.

Park still held a four-point lead with five shots remaining, but a poor penultimate shot saw Zhang take full advantage and move into the lead.

Zhang eventually finished 1.3 points clear of his opponent, who also claimed an Olympic quota spot by virtue of his second-place finish.

Vietnam's Hoang Xuan Vinh, who had already won an Olympic quota place at last year's ISSF World Championship in Granada, closed the match in third place with 171.8 points.

Croatia's Snjezana Pejcic led the women's 10m air rifle gold medal match from the first series to triumph with 209.1 points ©ISSF

Meanwhile in the women’s 10m air rifle event, Croatia’s Snjezana Pejcic led the gold medal match from the first series to the last shot to triumph with 209.1 points.

The 32-year-old, who won her last medal in the event at the 2011 ISSF World Cup medal, had already secured an Olympic quota place after winning 50m silver at the 2014 ISSF World Championship.

“Having already achieved an Olympic quota place helps me a little bit,” said Pejcic, the Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist.

“Now I can chill and focus on the technique and on the preparation work

“It has been a while since I won my last medal in this event.

“Now I have changed my approach to it, and I went back to my old air rifle.”

The silver medal went to Serbia’s Ivana Maksimovic on 207.7 points, while India’s Apurvi Chandela beat Sweden’s Michaela Arvidsson to bronze.

The trio were assigned the three Olympic quota places up for grabs.

Elsewhere, Mongolia’s Otryad Gundegmaa finished atop the podium in the women’s 25m pistol event after beating Lin Yuemei in the final, 7-3.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallist had closed the semi-final in the lead with 18 hits, and a one-point advantage on Lin, before scoring five hits in three consecutive series in the gold medal match.

Bulgaria's Antoaneta Boneva claimed the bronze medal after overcoming Malaysia's first-time finalist Alia Sazana Azahari, 7-5.

More than 570 athletes coming from 68 countries are competing in the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Changwon, the third leg of this year's ISSF World Cup Series.

The competition is set to continue tomorrow with the men’s 50m rifle prone and 10m air pistol finals.