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China gymnasts and divers bolster medal haul
2008-08-12
BEIJING (AFP) - China's bulging bag of gold medals got bigger Tuesday with the hosts winning diving and gymnastics titles, and there was joy for shooter Tan Zongliang who grabbed bronze after 12 years of trying. More chances to satisfy nationalist pride come later in weightlifting on day five of the Olympic Games. The powerful Chinese team, bidding to knock the United States from the top of the final medal standings for the first time, has been dominant so far, collecting 11 golds, three silvers and four bronzes. Nineteen gold medals were at stake Tuesday with the United States closing the gap on their rivals early in the day when Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin won in the pool. China bounced back with their gymnasts snuffing out challenges from defending champions Japan and the United States to spark wild celebrations among the cheering home crowd. It was their second Olympic title following victory in Sydney in 2000 and made amends for a disappointing fifth place in Athens. China finished on 286.125 points, 7.25 points ahead of Japan on 278.875, while an injury-weakened US team put in a gutsy effort to take bronze. "We performed perfect today, everyone was excellent," Chinese head coach Huang Yubin said. When it comes to diving, the Chinese have few peers and Wang Xin, who was 16 on Monday, and 15-year-old partner Chen Ruolin claimed the country's third diving gold of the Games in the women's 10m synchronized platform. They led from the first of the five dives, building a huge lead to finish nearly 30 points ahead of silver medallists Briony Cole and Melissa Wu of Australia. On the ranges Tan, settled for third in the men's 50m Pistol despite starting the 10-shot final with a seemingly comfortable two-point lead. But he blew his chance, opening the door to Jin Jong-Oh of South Korea who survived a last-minute scare to win by just 0.2 points ahead of second-placed North Korean Kim Jong-Su. Nevertheless, it was Tan's first medal in four Olympics, and coach Wang Yifu was content. "I think he performed well today, though he didn't get a gold medal," said Wang. "Since he has participated in four Games, a bronze medal is an historical breakthrough for him." Olympic debutant Hu Binyuan later won bronze in the men's Double Trap final. China has won four weightlifting gold medals so far and it has six lifters still in contention in the remaining 10 divisions, led by Shi Zhiyong on Tuesday in the men's 69kg. Shi won the 56kg title in Athens four years ago but has since upgraded to the heavier weight and is a favourite to win. Compatriot Liao Hui also starts. China is poised for a clean sweep in the table tennis which got underway with the men's and women's team events. The top four men and top five women in the world hail from the mainland with the men led by Wang Hao, Ma Lin, and Wang Liqin and the women by Zhang Yining, Guo Yue and Wang Nan. In the pool, Sun Ye finished seventh in the women's 100m breaststroke final, won by Australia's Leisel Jones. Medal hope Wu Peng qualified for the 200m butterfly final where he will try to halt Phelps's charge for an unprecedented eight golds at a single Games.
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