Yang set a new national record with 1,189 points in the men's 50m rifle 3p qualification round. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The gold medal seemed to open a door for the young shooter. Yang reaped golds in two ISSF World Cup stages and the World Cup Final in 2013.

When asked about any secrets to his success in the sport, Yang's quiet demeanor shines through. He replies: "nothing special," or "just hard work."

The reporters for the ISSF official website have even tagged him as a "quiet Chinese dream," saying his lack of words portrays a mix of shyness and humility.

Yang's status as a rising star is as well known as his quiet demeanor. Yang has won just every major international title since 2013, such as the Asian Shooting Championship (Teheran 2013) and the Asian Games (Incheon 2014); the ISSF World Cup (Munich 2014), the World Cup Final (Munich 2013), the World Championship (Granada 2014); and the Youth Olympic Games (Nanjing 2014).

There's only one thing Yang lacks: an Olympic gold.

Yang finished a disappointing 31st at last year's Rio Olympics, but that has not stopped his drive to chase an Olympic gold medal.

"I do not think my experience in the Rio Games was a setback. It made me more mature actually," says Yang.

Yang started shooting in 2008, eight years after Cai Yalin won the Olympic gold in 10m air rifle in Sydney. Cai became Yang's coach a few years later, and they have worked together toward Yang's Olympic aspirations ever since.