No gold for China on opening day at Rio Olympics

China's Du Li (left), Virginia Thrasher (center) of USA and China's Yi Siling on the medals podium at Olympic Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6, 2016. [Photo/Wei Xiaohao]

RIO DE JANEIRO - China finished the first full competition day of the Rio Olympic Games without a gold medal while Vietnam made history by taking its first ever Olympic gold in shooting on Saturday.

With former Olympic champion Du Li and Yi Siling on the same court at women's 10m air rifle final, US shooter Virginia Thrasher staged a steady performance to bring the first gold medal of Rio Olympics to Team USA.

Thrasher, 19, finished the match with 208.0 points, one point more than 2004 Athens Games champion Du from China. Defending champion Yi took home the bronze with 185.4 points.

"It's just an intensive feeling of pride for my country and I'm so happy to be here," said Thrasher, whose gold is also her first international competition medal.

"I was just trying to shoot the best I could for my first Olympics experience coming without any medal. The first gold medal for Rio 2016, for USA at 19 years old is incredible."

It was the fourth Olympics for 34-year-old veteran Du, who won the title at the same event 12 years ago in Athens, Greece.

"It's really hard," said the silver medalist. "There were some expectations, but It's just too hard."