China's markswomen got off to a strong start at the opening day of the Shooting World Cup as Li Xue outclassed European champion Doreen Vennekamp to clinch the gold medal in women's 10-meter air pistol, while her compatriot Qian Wei bagged bronze. 

A gold medalist at the 2022 Cairo World Championships, Li set the tone by topping the qualification round with a score of 581 points. In the 25-shot ranking round between the top eight, the 23-year-old led the pack again with 254.6 before getting the better of his German rival Vennekamp 17-5 in the gold medal match.  

The third spot went to Qian, who has been on an upward trajectory in 2023. Defending world champion Lu Kaiman, meanwhile, paid the price for an uncharacteristically inconsistent performance and finished fourth.

China have sent 37 shooters to the World Cup in Bhopal, the joint-largest contingent along with the hosts India. The shooting powerhouse, who topped the tally with 11 medals at the Tokyo Olympics, have earned all eight possible Olympic quota spots after a dominant display at last year's Cairo worlds, where they claimed 27 gold, 16 silver and 15 bronze medals. 

China manager Wang Lian, however, has told his cohorts to keep their feet on the ground and not to get too carried away. "No one can be 100 percent sure that he or she will have a place in the Chinese delegation for Paris," he insisted.  

"They earned quotas, but they are for the Chinese Olympic Committee. They have to work even harder and compete with their teammates through a comprehensive qualification system. Only the best two athletes in each event can have the chance to go to Paris."  

The second day of the competition will witness mixed team events in the 10-meter air rifle and air pistol categories.