Zou Lijuan of China competes during Women's Javelin Throw F34 Final at the Para Athletics World Championships held in Kobe, Japan, May 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
KOBE, Japan, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China pocketed four gold medals at the Para Athletics Championships on Sunday.
In the women's javelin throw F34 final, China's Zou Lijuan retained her world title with a championship record throw of 21.22m, while her teammate Zuo Caiyun took silver with her seasonal best of 17.75m.
Chinese para thrower Yao Juan, another defending world champion, won the women's discus throw F64 final with a season's best of 43.09 meters at the Universiade Memorial Stadium in the central Japanese port city of Kobe.
Despite the drizzly weather, Chinese racers spared no effort during the day. Zhou Xia defended her world title in the women's 200m T35 final with a seasonal best of 29.45 seconds, after wheelchair runner Zhou Hongzhuan won gold in the women's 800m T53 final by clocking her seasonal best of 1:56.54.
Other medalists on Sunday included Gao Fang, Zhou Zhaoqian, Liu Cuiqing and Guo Qianqian, who took silver medals in the women's finals of 800m T53, 800m T54, 400m T11 and 200m T35, respectively.
Among the bronze medalists were China's Yang Yue in the women's discus throw F64 final and Tian Yajuan in the women's 800m T54 final.
Day 3 of the nine-day event saw China topping the medal tally with 10 golds, eight silvers, and eight bronzes. The World Championships, held in East Asia for the first time, serve as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The championships have attracted over 1,000 athletes from 100 countries and regions competing in 168 events.
A total of 73 Chinese para-athletes are competing in the championships, which run until May 25. Originally scheduled for 2021, the event was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ■
Zou Lijuan of China reacts during Women's Javelin Throw F34 Final at the Para Athletics World Championships held in Kobe, Japan, May 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Guo Qianqian (L) of China and Zhou Xia of China celebrate after Women's 200m T35 Final at the Para Athletics World Championships held in Kobe, Japan, May 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Zuo Caiyun of China competes during Women's Javelin Throw F34 Final at the Para Athletics World Championships held in Kobe, Japan, May 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Guo Qianqian (L) of China and Zhou Xia (R) of China compete during Women's 200m T35 Final at the Para Athletics World Championships held in Kobe, Japan, May 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
