DOHA, December 2 -- China claimed the first gold medal of the Asian Games with victory in the men's 10m air rifle team event.

China's Li Jie reacts during the match. [Xinhua]

The Chinese team, composed of Zhu Qinan, Li Jie and Liu Tianyou, scored a total of 1,786 points in the competition.

South Korea grabbed the silver medal with 1,777 points, just one point ahead of third-placed India.

"The marathon is over now. Pressure is always there," said Wang Yifu, coach of the Chinese shooting team.

Zhu Qinan, the Athens Olympic gold medalist in the men's air rifle, and Li Jie, the silver winner after Zhu in Athens, didn't find the form that carried them to Athens glory as both finished the 60-shot competition with 594 points, a joint fourth place among the 42 competitors.

The little-known Liu Tianyou turned out to be the hero of the defending Asian Games champions as the 24-year-old scored the highest 598 points.

Coach Wang Yifu felt released after the Chinese sharpshooters notched the first gold medal of the Doha Asian Games in the men's 10m air rifle shooting team event.

"It's not easy, finally the marathon is over," said Wang "It's very difficult to win a shooting gold at this Asian Games, because both South Korean and Indian shooters are very strong in air rifle events," Wang added.

"We had a below-bar performance today, but I am delighted that we won the first gold for the Chinese delegation," Wang said.

Liu entered the men's 10m air rifle final as top finisher from the qualifications with 598 points. Zhu, the Athens Games gold winner in the event, only placed fifth with 594 points but still advanced.