Host country China has taken two gold medals on the first full day of
competition at the Beijing Olympics, one day after a worldwide
television audience saw a lavish display at the opening ceremonies.
In
the women's 48-kilogram weightlifting competition, China's Chen Xiexia
won the gold. Turkey's Sibel Ozkan earned the silver, while Taiwan's
Chen Wei-Ling took the bronze medal.
In the men's 10-meter air
pistol event, China's Pang Wei won the gold with a total of 688.2
points, followed by competitors from South Korea's Jin Jong-oh and
North Korea's Kim Jong Su.
The Czech Republic's Katerina Emmons,
who is married to U.S. shooter Matt Emmons, won the first gold of these
Games, taking the women's 10-meter air rifle, while setting an Olympic
record (503.5 points). The silver medal went to Russia's Lioubov
Galinka, while Croatia's Snjezana Pejcic earned the bronze.
In
the men's cycling road race, Samuel Sanchez of Spain won the gold
medal, taking the 254-kilometer mountainous race on a humid day in six
hours, 23 minutes, 49 seconds. Italy's Davide Rebellin took the
silver, followed by Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara in third place.
In
the men's 60-kilogram judo competition, South Korea's Choi Min-ho won
the gold medal by defeating world number one Ludwig Paischer of
Austria. The bronze medals went to Rishod Sobirov of Uzbekistan and
Ruben Houkes of the Netherlands.
In the women's 48 kilogram judo
competition, Alina Alexandra Dumitru of Romania won the gold with Yanet
Bermoy of Cuba earning the silver. The bronze medals went to
Argentina's Paula Belen Pareto and Ryoko Tani of Japan.
The
United States swept the medals in the women's sabre fencing with 2004
gold medalist Mariel Zagunis beating countrywoman and top seed Sada
Jacobson in the gold medal match, 15-8. Second seed Becca Ward of the
United States took the bronze with a 15-14 win over Russian Sofiya
Velikaya.
