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Zhang’s medal opens China’s gold account
RIO DE JANEIRO: First-time Olympian Zhang Mengxue secured China’s first gold medal of the 2016 Olympics on Sunday by winning the women’s 10-metre air pistol event
RIO DE JANEIRO: First-time Olympian Zhang Mengxue secured China’s first gold medal of the 2016 Olympics on Sunday by winning the women’s 10-metre air pistol event and extending her nation’s gold medal streak in the sport.
Coming off a tough qualifying round, the 25-year-old Zhang handily won the final with a score of 199.4 points in 20 shots, well ahead of 19-yearold Vitalina Batsarashkina from Russia, the silver medallist with a score of 197.1. Anna Korakaki from Greece won the bronze, becoming the first Greek woman to win a medal in shooting.
Zhang kept China in top standing in the event after countrywoman and London 2012 and Beijing 2008 gold medallist Guo Wenjun failed to qualify for the finals, finishing in 30th place. “I was pretty calm for the final actually, because the qualification was a bit tough for me,” said Zhang, who joined the national team two years ago.
US BEGIN WITH WIN
The US women have started their run for a sixth straight Olympic gold medal in basketball in record-setting fashion.
The Americans scored their most points ever in beating Senegal 121-56 Sunday, while also notching their largest margin of victory in the Olympics in topping the 60-point win over Zaire in 1996 in Atlanta.
They also won their 42nd straight Olympic game, easily handling an African nation still looking for its first victory in its second Olympics.
