Olympics day 1: China emerges as board leader

After China had showcased its rich history in a breathtaking opening ceremony on Friday night, competitors began their quest for the seven gold medals on offer on the first day.

Pang Wei made amends for China in the shooting, taking the men’s 10m Pistol even and Chen Xiexia won the women’s 48kg weightlifting title, while Spanish cyclist Samuel Sanchez won the gruelling road race.

But the honour of first on the podium went to Emmons who overcame a splitting headache to produce a record-breaking performance in winning the women’s 10m air rifle title.

“I couldn’t believe it. I had a headache this morning. I felt so terrible that I didn’t know how I’d shoot. So to win the first gold medal of this Olympics is pretty amazing,” said Emmons.

Emmons equalled the world record in the qualification rounds and finished with a total 503.5, breaking the Olympic record of 502 by Du set four years ago. Du, under pressure to produce ‘aoyun shoujin’ – first Olympic gold – fled the hall in tears, and later said she “wasn’t fully prepared for the pressure of competing at home”. But there was no sign of nerves when Chen won her weightlifting gold and set two Olympic records.

“I’m very happy and I think I did a very good job,” Chen said. “Today I have tried my best to compete, whether or not this medal was the first gold.”

Pang Wei kept China’s momentum going with his shooting gold after team officials withheld news that Du had failed. “We have to focus on our own performance and this helps me to relax and not come under pressure.”

In hazy, hot and humid conditions, Sanchez prevailed in the cycling road race for the biggest win of his career after a tough 6hr 23min 49sec in the saddle.

Pre-race favourite and reigning champion Paolo Bettini of Italy was left trailing after a decisive attack on the final climb by Australian Cadel Evans.

That move also dropped co-favourite Alejandro Valverde of Spain, and ultimately led to a six-man finish with Italian Davide Rebellin a close second and Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara.

The other medal events still to be decided today included the women’s individual sabre fencing as well as two judo divisions.

The competition proper began at dawn in Hong Kong when veteran Olympic champion Mark Todd came out of retirement to become the first rider to compete in the three-day equestrian event.

“I didn’t expect to be number one, it was just the luck of the draw,” said Todd, equestrian’s “Rider of the 20th Century” who won gold at Los Angeles and Seoul, and retired after claiming individual bronze in Sydney in 2000.

“I’m used as cannon fodder. They said send the old bugger out there first and see what happens,” he said after finishing in the middle of the field in the first round.

The opening day of the Games, however, was not without controversy as Greece recalled a track athlete after testing positive for a prohibited performance drug.

Greek officials did not immediately name the competitor but Greek media revealed it was men’s 200 metre runner Tassos Gousis, who denied any wrongdoing.

“I am innocent and my conscience is clear”, Gousis told reporters. “It would be stupid for me to take a banned substance just before the Games.”

In Hong Kong, a pro-Tibet activist was forced to leave the equestrian venue where she planned to unfurl a Tibetan flag.

But drugs scandals, as well as political and pollution concerns were laid aside, at least briefly, at the stunning opening ceremony staged before 91,000 spectators in the iconic “Bird’s Nest” stadium.