Chen gives China near perfect start in medal race

Beijing: China got off to a near perfect start on Saturday in its bid to top the Olympic medal table with weightlifter Chen Xiexia clinching their first gold, but the pressure was too much for shooter Du Li.

After a dazzling opening ceremony showcasing the nation's ancient civilization and an offer of friendship to the world, attention finally turned to sport and Chen didn't disappoint the country's 1.3 billion people.

The world champion set two new Olympic records for the women's 48-kilogramme class by lifting 117kg in the clean and jerk on the way to a total lift of 212kg.

Turkey's Sibel Ozkan took silver and Taiwan's Chen Wei-Ling the bronze. It was an impressive performance by Chen who pulled a muscle in her left leg in July which almost cost her an Olympic berth and triggered concerns about her form.

Coach Ma Wenguang had set a target of four gold by his women lifters.

"We dearly want to secure the four golds in the categories we are the most competitive," he said. "We are better prepared than any other Olympics."

China has been the dominant country in women's weightifting since it was first included on the Olympic programme at Sydney in 2000, claiming seven gold and one silver since then.

Expectations were high that Chinese defending champion Du Li would clinch the first gold of the Games in the women's 10m Air Rifle, but the 26-year-old failed to deliver and finished fifth.

The pressure to give China the perfect start was so great that Du was forced to appeal to the public and media to "please don't hype it up."

It followed the experience of team-mate Zhao Yinghui, who was the gold medal favourite at Athens but crumbled under intense pressure and failed to reach the podium.

"It's okay, I scored 399 points getting to the final and I'm satisfied with it," said Du. "But as for the final, I wasn't fully prepared for the pressure of competing at home."

Czech shooter Katerina Emmons, who equalled Du's world record of 504.9 points earlier this year, took the honours instead, with Lioubov Galkina of Russia winning silver and Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia the bronze.

World champion Peng Wei has a chance to make amends later Saturday in the men's 10m Air Pistol gold.

Seven gold medals are up for grabs on day one in fencing, where China's Tan Xue is a medal prospect in the women's sabre, judo, shooting and weightlifting.

As well as that gold rush, heats and premliminary rounds get underway in sailing, swimming, volleyball, archery, basketball, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, handball, and rowing.

At Athens four years ago, China finished with 32 gold, 17 silver and 14 bronze medals to place second behind the United States and the country is confident of finishing first on home turf.

In the drive to beat that mark and satisfy nationalist pride, they are fielding 639 athletes in Beijing -- up from the 407 sent to Greece.

Aside from weightlifting, its best hopes for gold come in sports like table tennis, badminton, gymnastics and diving.

It is also be aiming to add to the tally in lower profile disciplines such as canoeing, boxing, beach volleyball and synchronized swimming.

In other action on Saturday, China's male gymnasts begin team qualifying and are poised to dominate in front of their home fans with Yang Wei seen as the standout.