China continues golden run, Paua New Guinea and Poland celebrate first medals

Source: Xinhua | 09-15-2008 22:16

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China continued to dominate track and field on Monday, while Paua New Guinea and Poland celebrated their first medals at the Beijing Paralympics.

Of its six gold medals won on Monday, the Chinese delegation's most spectacular victory came from the women's discus - F42/46 event, in which Chinese athletes swept the whole set of medals.

Wang Jun won the gold in her last throw of 36.99m, beating the world record of 32.94m. Her compatriot Yang Yue's throw of 42.38m was further in distance and broke her own F44 world record but only gave her silver based on the multi-classification event point system. Zheng Baozhu took the bronze.

"I was put into a different category (by the competition officials) before the competition. I didn't expect to win, but I was very excited to see three Chinese national flags rising at the same time," said Wang.

Wang's coach Hou Guoqing described his student, who began to train with him at the age of 15, as a "very perseverant and competitive" athlete.

Wang's father used to draw a line and asked her to throw to that line when she was a kid, according to the coach.

Papua New Guinea's Francis Kompaon may have only got a silver in the men's 100m - T46 classification, but he looked the happiest man at the finish line, for giving his country its first medal.