Zhang Yifan, from Taiyuan Second Youth Amateur Sports School, aims true during the final of the men's 10m air pistol at the 2nd National Youth Games, on Aug 10. He took gold at the event. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Pistols were drawn and rifles cocked, as the rifle and pistol preliminaries and finals of the 2nd National Youth Games took place in Taiyuan, in Shanxi province, on Aug 9-13. 

The competitions attracted 463 athletes in 48 teams from across China to match their skills in 28 individual, group and mixed events. 

Twelve athletes representing Shanxi province participated in the competitions, winning gold in the men's 10 meter air pistol event and silver in the men's group 10m air pistol event. 

Shooting has flourished in Shanxi for over sixty years, with several Asian Games champions including Cheng Zhongping and Wang Youqun leading the sport's development. 

In recent years, a number of outstanding shooters – among them Wang Zhiwei, Yan Ruijiao and Zhao Ruozhu – have emerged in the province. 

Shanxi, along with Inner Mongolia autonomous region, won gold medal in the men's 4×7.5km relay in the rollerski-shooting combined program of the 14th National Winter Games in early August. It was the first time Shanxi had won gold at the Winter Games. 

In addition to the National Winter Games, Shanxi's shooters will prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. At present, Zhao Ruozhu has won through to qualify for the games. Rising stars like Lyu Na, Liu Huina, and Ren Yanzhou will also compete to qualify.