China shine in Paralympic powerlifting
China's women dominated the first day of powerlifting at the Paris Paralympics as Guo Lingling improved her world record in the up to 45kg class on Wednesday. Guo, 35, took her best on the bench press from 121kg in February to 123kg in Paris with Britain's Zoe Newson in second place, 14kg lighter with her leading effort. Guo's contributions in front of a vocal but half-empty La Chapelle Arena kept her country atop the overall medal table at Paris 2024. "I am very excited and happy, and the atmosphere at the stadium was also very inspiring to me," Lingling said. "The Chinese government spends a lot of money training people. "So China will always be first on the gold medal tally," she added. Earlier, compatriot Cui Zhe had secured a Paralympic record in the up to 41kg category. Cui turns 38 in December and finally claimed the gold medal by lifting almost three times her weight in 119kg following four silvers in her previous Games appearances. "I have always had faith in myself and believed that I could get the gold," Cui said. "I've been very determined with this target and never given up, always giving my best performance at competitions. "I've felt that I've had a mission that I've never completed. "To become a Paralympic champion has always been my target and I've always had faith in getting it done," she added. Hong Kong's Paralympic swimmer Chan Yui-lam finished 5th in the women's 200-metres SM-14 individual medley final in Paris. And wheelchair fencer Alison Yu was beaten 15-11 in the foil category A bronze medal match, by Judith Rodriguez Menendez of Spain. (AFP)