Xu Hongyan Wins China's First Gold at Sydney ParalympicsChinese woman discus thrower Xu Hongyan won her country's first gold medal at the current XI Paralympic Games as she took the women's discus throw F12 title Friday in Sydney.The 24-year-old, the Paralympic shot put champion and silver-medalist for discus throw at the Atlanta Games in 1996, scored a throw of 42.19 meters on her second attempt. It was 3.53 meters farther than the eventual silver medal winner Lisa Banta from the United States. Australian Jodie Willis-Roberts was third with a throw of 36.57 meters. Xu will also compete in the shot put event in Sydney next Wednesday. She keeps the event's world record of 12.12 meters she set at the Atlanta Games in 1996. |
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