China Takes Early Lead in Games

HIROSHIMA, Japan -- China's three smallest women weightlifters started their nation on its way to another big gold haul by smashing world records Monday, and its swimmers followed up by winning three of four races.


Host Japan swept the first four gold medals in its native sport of karate and won one swimming race and the equestrian team dressage event.


But the Japanese still ended the first full day of competition trailing China eight to six in gold medals. The Chinese won the men's gymnastic team event -- ahead of South Korea and Japan. And China's Dong Zhaozhi tipped the balance by defeating Japan's Yoshihide Nagano in the men's foil fencing final.


In total medals, China and Japan were tied with 12 each. Indonesia had six -- three silvers and three bronzes.


Over the two weeks of competition among nearly 5,000 athletes, China is expected to win the overall medals race for the fourth consecutive Games, and the big battle was between Japan and South Korea for second.


The South Koreans had just two silvers and two bronzes Monday, however.


Attention focused on the swimming pool after China's women won 12 of 16 events last month in the World Championships in Rome.


But it was newcomer Shan Ying who stole the spotlight, winning the women's 100-meter freestyle in the third best time ever and edging Chinese teammate Lu Bin, the silver medalist in Rome. Shan finished in 54.40 seconds, a Games record, and Lu in 54.42. World record holder Le Jingyi sat out this race, but is to compete in Saturday's 50 freestyle.


China's other winners were veteran Lin Li, ahead of world champion teammate Dai Guohong, in the women's 400-meter individual medley, and Xiong Guoming, who beat two Japanese in the men's 200 freestyle.


For Japan, Akira Hayashi beat two Chinese in the men's 100 breaststroke.


Lin finished in 4 minutes, 40.47 seconds, with Dai second in 4:45.64 and Japan's Hitomi Maehara third in 4:46.42.


Xiong lowered the Games men's 200 freestyle record to 1:50.95, finishing just ahead of Japan's Taihei Maeda, who was timed in 1:51.08.


Hayashi also set a Games record, 1:02.04, with China's Wang Yiwu second in 1:03.42. China's Chen Jianhong, who held the old record of 1:02.60, took the bronze in 1:03.94.


In the women's 46-kilogram weightlifting division, China's Guan Hong hoisted a total of 182.5 kilograms (401.5 pounds), well better than the world mark of 165 kilograms set by China's Luo Hongwei last December in China.


Sanga Wangkiree of Thailand won the silver medal with 177.5 kilograms, and India's Mameirakpam Kunjarani won bronze with 172.5 kilograms.


Japan, meanwhile, was expected to take all 11 golds in karate, a fighting art making its debut in the Games, where it joins Korea's tae kwon do, China's wushu and the Olympic sport of judo, also a Japanese creation.


Japan's Hisami Yokoyama captured the Games' very first gold medal, winning the kata competition, in which the athletes perform against an imaginary opponent. Five judges rate them on their technique in attacking, defending and counterattacking. "I'm overwhelmed to have won the first medal of the Games," said the 29-year-old high school teacher, who began learning karate at age 9.


A total of 337 golds are at stake in competition among athletes from 42 nations and territories.


With the addition of karate and other changes to the sports lineup since the last Games in Beijing in 1990, and the debut of five former Soviet republics, the Chinese are saying their gold total is likely to fall from the 183 four years ago.