China leads table on golden day for Asia

Kitajima, Asia's greatest swimmer, stole the spotlight from Michael Phelps with an unprecedented "double-double" in the Olympics breaststroke, adding the 200 meters gold to earlier victory in the 100, after wins in both events in Athens 2004.

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Then hosts China, who led the overall medals table on Games' day six with 21 golds, scored a shock 1-2 in the pool.

 

Nineteen-year-old Liu Zige destroyed the world record in the women's 200 butterfly. Compatriot Jiao Liuyang relegated Australian world champion Jessica Schipper to third.

 

There were sweet victories too for Chinese gymnast Yang Wei, who ended eight years of hurt in the men's individual all-round event, and for shooter Du Li, who had broken down in tears after failing to win the first gold of the Games on day one.

 

China even took an unexpected gold in women's archery thanks to Zhang Juan Juan. That ended South Korea's streak of winning every women's Olympic archery gold medal since 1984.

 

Asian nations have won nearly half of the golds awarded so far. America is second to China with 10 golds -- five of those thanks to swimmer Phelps -- but will expect to make a comeback when track-and-field events start on Friday.

 

South Korea, Italy and Germany are third with six golds.Â

 

China's Communist Party newspaper hailed a resurgent Asia's medals' success as proof of historical and economic trends that were overturning "the old disparities" in sports competition.

 

"The traditional sporting powers face stronger and stronger challengers," the People's Daily said.

 

Replacing old Cold War rival Russia as America's main challenger in the Olympics, China came second in Athens 2004 and could go one better at home.

 

The world's most populous nation has shown their new wealth, confidence and technological ability with a dazzling opening ceremony, a record Games spending of $43 billion, some architecturally astonishing venues, and meticulous organization.

 

JOY IN THE WATER CUBE

 

The sports events have now eclipsed pre-Games pressure from the West over China's rights record and rule in Tibet.

 

Plenty more of Thursday's excitement was in the Water Cube.

 

France's Alain Bernard won swimming's blue riband event, the men's 100 freestyle, by a whisker from Australia's Eamon Sullivan, after trailing at the half-way stage.

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For Bernard, it made up for the agony of being overhauled in the last lap of the 4x100 freestyle relay final by the Americans.Â

 

Sullivan's former girlfriend Stephanie Rice, the glamour girl of Australian swimming, had a better day than him, taking her third gold of the Games in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

 

The Australian team screamed and hugged each other after chopping nearly six seconds off the world record.

 

China did even better in the women's 200m butterfly, scoring a rare gold and silver with their fast-improving swimmers.

 

"I just took it easy," winner Liu told state television, brushing off the pressure of the home crowd to maintain a Phelps-like calm. "I am always like this," she said.

 

In the men's 200m breaststroke, Kitajima led all the way for his second gold of the Games, and his fourth in all. "I was not thinking about winning two gold medals at two consecutive Olympics ... I was just focused on doing my best in Beijing."

 

After becoming the all-time most successful Olympian with 11 career golds, American swimming phenomenon Phelps had a quieter day, sailing through a semi-final in the 200 individual medleys.

 

China have dominated gymnastic in these Games, and Yang, unbeaten on the international stage since 2006, followed team gold with another in the men's individual all-round round event.

 

Thumping his chest and cupping his hands around his ears, he milked the crowd's cheers even before the judges' final scores were announced. His joy was magnified by past disappointments, after taking silver in Sydney and nothing in Athens.

 

There was relief, too, for Chinese shooter Du, who steadied earlier nerves to win the women's 50m rifle three positions. Du said she had nearly quit the sport after failing to win a medal on Saturday, when national hopes had weighed heavily.Â

 

Rainstorms washed away the Beijing smog but also caused delays in tennis, softball, canoeing and rowing, while lack of wind prevented any sailing. Beach volleyball players struggled on though, squelching through the sand.