China grabbed nine more medals including five golds to a total of 80 after six days competition at the Athens Paralympic Games in Athens on September 23, surpassed the tally of 72 they achieved in the Sydney Paralympics four years ago. (Updated Paralympic medal tally)

China, also with 29 silvers and 21 bronzes, still holds an eight-gold leading margin over runner-up Britain, who trailed with 51 medals of 22 golds, 13 silvers and 16 bronzes on the standings.

Australia was in third spot with 18-11-14 on a tally of 54.

High jumper Hou Bin and Guo Weizhong finished 1-2 in men's F42 final to lift China's medals in Athens to 72 and tied the total medals China captured in Sydney.

China won 34 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze medals for a medal tally of 72 in Sydney.

The historical 73 overall Paralympic medal for China came in two hours late when the squad of Che Mian, Lu Yi, Yang Chen and Zhou Wenjun finished second in 46.86 seconds in the men's T35-T38 4x100 meters relay.

The relay event was won by an Australian team in a world record time of 46.73 seconds.

China added its fourth and fifth title of the day in men's 200 meters individual medley when simmer He Junquan got his third Athens gold in men's SM5 class and 16-year-old Wang Xiaofu crowned in the SM8 class.

Fung Yin Ki, Hui Charn Hung and Tai Yan Yun outlasted the Polish Team 45-43 in a thrilling

final for a record number of eight golds for Hong Kong, which finished on top of the fencing medal table by 14 also including five silver and one bronze.

France was second with five medals of two gold and three bronze, followed by Poland 1-6-5 for a total of 12.

Hungarian fencer Pal Szekeres won a bronze on Wednesday, became the only athlete in Athens who has won both Olympic and Paralympic medals.

The 40-year-old Hungarian was named the Athlete of the Day by the official webside of Athens 2004 Paralympic game on Thursday.

Swedish marksman Jonas Jacobsson also made history when he shot down the mixed P6-50m free rifle SH1 title, his fourth gold medal in Athens, also the 13th under his name since the Swedish first participated in Paralympic Games in 1980 in Arnhem.

In rugby field, Britain and the United States remained unbeaten with comfortable wins in the quarter-finals.

The United States defeated Germany 46-34 while Britain cruised to a 50-42 victory over Japan.

Source: Xinhua