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Jonas Jacobsson of Sweden reacts in the men's R1-10m air rifle standing SH1 final of shooting event during Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, Sept. 8, 2008. Jonas Jacobsson won the gold with a total score of 700.5. (Xinhua/Ren Yong) Photo Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Swedish shooting great Jonas Jacobsson collected his 14th Paralympic gold medal on Monday as the United States and Britain were locked with seven gold medals apiece at the top of the gold medal standings.
Host China was third on the ladder with five golds
midway through Day Two. Later in the day, there are 20 gold medals up for grab
in judo, swimming and athletics.
China, who topped the medals table with 63 golds in
Athens 2004, is widely expected to defend the honor at the end of the 11-day
sporting event for elite disabled athletes.
Jacobsson surpassed the eight-year-old world record
by a huge margin Tuesday morning in the men's 10m air rifle standing position in
his disability class, increasing his Paralympic medal tally to 14 gold, one
silver and eight bronze medals.
His qualification score of 596 was three points
better than the old mark by Jung Jin-won of South Korea at Sydney 2000. After 10
stunning final shots, Jacobsson beat the world record for the final - 697.1 - by
3.4 points, which was also set by Jung in Sydney.
Jacobsson, an eight-time Paralympian, earned more
than 10 points, including a bull's eye 10.9, which rarely happens in either
Paralympic or Olympic competitions.
"The main thing was to continue the streak. I've now
won eight Paralympics in a row. That was the main goal, and hopefully I can get
another good result here," said Jacobsson.
In Athens 2004, he snatched four gold medals,
breaking eight world and Paralympic records and eqauling four.
Jacobsson will compete in three other events - the
men's 50m free rifle 3x40 standing SH1, the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 and
the mixed 50m free rifle prone SH1.
"Every competition is a new one. You have to focus,"
said Jacobsson. "Everybody starts at zero, and you have to shoot your own
shots."
China's Yao Juan claimed her second Paralympic gold
when she won the women's F42-46 javelin with a world record throw of 40.51
meters. The 24-year-old won the gold in 2000 but finished a distant fifth in
Athens four years ago.
Lin Haiyan, 45, grabbed the first gold in shooting
for China with a victory in the women's SH1 10-meter air pistol.
Athletes will compete over 11 days in 20 sports in
five different categories of disability, with a total of 472 gold medals
awarded.
The Paralympics end on Sept. 17.

Jonas
Jacobsson(C) of Sweden, Norbert Gau (L) of Germany and Franc Pinter of Slovenia
greet the spectators at the awarding ceremony for the men's R1-10m air rifle
standing SH1 final of shooting event during Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in
Beijing, Sept. 8, 2008. Jonas Jacobsson won the gold with a total score of
700.5. Norbert Gau and Franc Pinter took the silver and bronze medals
respectively. (Xinhua/Ren Yong)
Jonas Jacobsson of Sweden competes in the men's R1-10m air rifle
standing SH1 final of shooting event during Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in
Beijing, Sept. 8, 2008. Jonas Jacobsson won the gold with a total score of
700.5. (Xinhua/Ren Yong)