Host Nation Leads the Medal Table After First Day of 2010 Asian Para Games

14 Dec 2010

After the first day of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games, which saw four World records broken, China leads the medal table with 10 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze medals.

In total 67 medals were given out on a day one with Japan’s Takuro Yamada claiming the first gold of the Games in the pool in the Men’s 400m Freestyle S9.

Watched by Mr. Hui Liangyu, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China and Asian Paralympic Committee President Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin, Wang Jiacho won silver for the host nation and Korea’s Kwong Hyun bronze in the same race.

China’s first gold of the Games came through Cai Yuqingyan in the second Swimming event of the day – the women’s 400m Freestyle S9.

A total 46 medals were given out in Swimming, and the 16 gold medals were shared out between China (7), Japan (3), Iran and Malaysia (both 2) and Korea and Chinese Taipei (1 each).

The highlight of the day in the pool though was a World record by Korea’s Min Byeongeon in the Men’s 50m Backstroke S3. His time of 43.67 seconds also provided Korea’s first gold medal of the Games.

In Powerlifting, Jordan claimed the first gold medal at the Asian Games Town Gymnasium in Guangzhou. Omar Qarada’s result of 167.5kg in the Men’s 48kg category was good enough to secure first place ahead of Mustafa Radhi of Iraq and Farman Basha of India who took silver and bronze with results of 165.0kg and 157.5kg respectively. Their medals were presented by Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee. Other Powerlifting gold medals were won by China and Iraq.

The first shooting gold medal of the Asian Para Games was awarded to China’s He Huan in the R2-SH1 Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing with a result of 497.7.

At the Aoti Archery Range three World records were broken in the Ranking Rounds. China’s Gao Fangxia’s 641 points in the Women’s individual recurve standing event was a world’s best as was Dong Zhi of China’s 649 points in the Men’s event. The Korean team’s 1811 points in the women’s team recurve open was also a World record.

The first cycling event of the Games – the mixed C1-5, M1km and W500m time trial - saw a Chinese one, two, three. Zhou Jufang took gold with a result of 1:08.348 ahead of Liu Xinyang and Ruan Jianping.

First round matches, group games and heats took place in Badminton, Boccia, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Rowing, Sitting volleyball, Wheelchair basketball and Wheelchair tennis.

The Guangzhou Asian Para Games will run until 19 December and involve around 2,500 athletes from 41 countries competing in 19 sports.