Jin retains gold

Jin finished with a score of 662.0 to take the title ahead of Choi on 661.5, with Zhiwei Wang of China third on 658.6.

"Today I am so happy but I'm sorry to Mr Choi that I intercepted the gold medal," a beaming Jin told reporters through a translator.

"Choi was expected to win the gold medal and I'm sorry about that. I never expected a gold medal, I hoped to win a bronze medal."

Jin had begun the final seven points behind Choi but a magnificent display helped him close the gap and pile the pressure on Choi, who crumbled at the end.

Choi held a 3.3 lead over Jin with four rounds left of the 10-shot final but his failure to score above 9.4 with his remaining efforts evaporated that lead as Jin, who won the men's 10m pistol on the opening day of the Olympics, upped his game.

Jin, trailing by 1.6 before the final shot where shooters aim for a maximum score of 10.9, closed with a 10.2 as the world number 55 Choi produced a disappointing 8.1.

After wiping his brow, Jin pumped his fist to the crowd before giving the smiling Choi a hug.

Having finished top of the 60-shot qualifying session where competitors aim for the 50 millimetre highest scoring ring, Choi looked set to claim an unlikely gold.

His nearest rival Wang and Serbian Andrija Zlatic fell away as the Korean held a lead of 6.6 after four rounds before his meltdown cost him victory.

"Heartbreak," was Choi's verdict at losing out on the gold.

"It was my worst shot but I tried to do my best and when I finished my last shot, I was finished, relieved," he said.