Yang Haoran competes during the 10m rifle shooting men's final at 13th Chinese National Games in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Aug 29, 2017. Yang Haoran won the gold medal with a score of 248.9 rings. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)
TIANJIN, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Chang Jing retained her National Games title in women's 50m rifle 3 positions final, as Yang Haoran resumed his success in men's 10m air rifle final here on Tuesday in the 13th Chinese National Games shooting event.
Both Chang and Yang nailed the gold medals at the 12th Games in Shenyang of Liaoning Province four years ago. The 30-year-old Chang from Henan, who entered into the final with third place in qualifier, led the final from the first series to the last shot with 461.7 points.
"I was fully devoted to the final, and I did it," said Chang.
Wang Zeru of Heilongjiang ranked second with 460 points, followed by Beijing's Gao Chang with 448.3 points, who equalled the world record of 594 points and set a new national recordset in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions qualifier.
The current world record was set by Croatian Snjezana Pejcic at ISSF World Cup stage in Rio de Janeiro on April 22, 2016. The event's Chinese national record was 593 points.
Gao who took up shooting at the age of 14, nailed the gold medal in women's 50m rifle 3 positions in Nanchang of Jiangxi province at 2016 Chinese National Shooting Championships.
"I am satisfied with my shot. The qualifier was beyond my expectations, and that made me a little emotional," said Gao.
Reigning champions Yang Haoran, 21, pocketed the gold for Hebei with 248.9 points in men's 10m air rifle final.
"It was a tough match, and a good opportunity for me to improve. I am a lucky man," said Yang.
"I do not think my experience in Rio Games was a setback. It made me more mature actually," said Yang who, also a world champion and World Cup winner, finished a disappointing 31st at last year's Rio Olympics.
Gao Tingjie from Jiangsu team took silver and Anhui's Ding Jiawei bagged bronze.
