China win first gold medal of London 2012 Olympics

Yi Siling of China in action on Saturday morning. She became the first gold medalist of London 2012 (GETTY IMAGES)

The first gold medal of the London 2012 Olympic Games has gone to China.

Shooter Yi Siling won the women's 10-metre air rifle title this morning at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

The 23-year-old world number one and gold medal favourite lived up to her billing by beating Poland's Sylwia Bogacka into second.

Bogacka, 30, qualified in first place and was leading until the eighth shot, when a wayward effort condemned her to silver.

China's Yu Dan collected the bronze medal with Beijing gold medallist Katrina Emmons fourth.