Zhang claims first gold of Paralympics

Zhang claims first gold of ParalympicsChina's Zhang Cuiping won the first gold medal of the London Paralympics by setting a new world record in the women's R2-10 metres air rifle standing SH1 at the Royal Artillery Barracks.pa.press.net2012-08-30T22:12:442012-08-30T22:12:44Zhang Cuiping won shooting gold in the R2-10 metres air rifle standing SH1China's Zhang Cuiping won the first gold medal of the London Paralympics by setting a new world record in the women's R2-10 metres air rifle standing SH1 at the Royal Artillery Barracks.The 24-year-old was a class above her rivals as she finished with 500.9 points, well clear of Germany's Manuela Schmermund in second with Australian Natalie Smith taking bronze.Zhang set a new Paralympic record in qualifying with 396 points and she was equally accurate in the final with a 104.9 total.Schmermund finished with 493.6 points and Smith 492.4.Another Australian, 70-year-old grandmother Elizabeth Kosmala, the oldest competitor at London 2012, was eighth in the final with 488.7.Kosmala, who competed in her first Games in 1972 in Heidelberg, said: "Once you get in the final you want to medal. So of course I'm disappointed."Meanwhile twin sisters Carmen and Ramona Brussig both won judo gold on a great day for Germany.There were only two women's categories on display in east London on Thursday yet the Leipzig-born pair managed to top both the podiums.Carmen was first of the Brussig sisters to taste success after seeing off old foe Lee Kai-Lin of Chinese Taipei to win the under-48kg final at the ExCel.Ramona followed in her footsteps shortly afterwards against China's Wang Lijing in the -52kg, winning with an ippon to secure a memorable double victory by the twins.seo_keywordsParas shooting gold Th13

Zhang claims first gold of ParalympicsChina's Zhang Cuiping won the first gold medal of the London Paralympics by setting a new world record in the women's R2-10 metres air rifle standing SH1 at the Royal Artillery Barracks.pa.press.net2012-08-30T22:12:442012-08-30T22:12:44Zhang Cuiping won shooting gold in the R2-10 metres air rifle standing SH1China's Zhang Cuiping won the first gold medal of the London Paralympics by setting a new world record in the women's R2-10 metres air rifle standing SH1 at the Royal Artillery Barracks.The 24-year-old was a class above her rivals as she finished with 500.9 points, well clear of Germany's Manuela Schmermund in second with Australian Natalie Smith taking bronze.Zhang set a new Paralympic record in qualifying with 396 points and she was equally accurate in the final with a 104.9 total.Schmermund finished with 493.6 points and Smith 492.4.Another Australian, 70-year-old grandmother Elizabeth Kosmala, the oldest competitor at London 2012, was eighth in the final with 488.7.Kosmala, who competed in her first Games in 1972 in Heidelberg, said: "Once you get in the final you want to medal. So of course I'm disappointed."Meanwhile twin sisters Carmen and Ramona Brussig both won judo gold on a great day for Germany.There were only two women's categories on display in east London on Thursday yet the Leipzig-born pair managed to top both the podiums.Carmen was first of the Brussig sisters to taste success after seeing off old foe Lee Kai-Lin of Chinese Taipei to win the under-48kg final at the ExCel.Ramona followed in her footsteps shortly afterwards against China's Wang Lijing in the -52kg, winning with an ippon to secure a memorable double victory by the twins.seo_keywordsParas shooting gold Th13