China's red parade continues on track and field
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-02 21:16

Earlier, Bao Guiying won the women's 10,000m to kickstart China's athletics campaign.

Bao, understudy to Olympic champion Xing Huina who is running in the 5,000m, burst up the final straight to clock 32 minutes, 35.07 seconds, beating Hiromi Ominami of Japan by one-and-a-half seconds.

North Korean bronze medallist Paek Hyan-gok crossed the line more than two minutes later in 34:53.06.

In the women's shot put, Li Meiju's opening throw of 18.12 metres was enough for victory, despite falling well short of her personal best of 19.05.

Jing Xuezhu edged out team-mate Zhen Xingjuan in the women's high jump with a superior faults record after both jumped 1.85m.

Wu Tao hurled the discus 61.74m to win the men's competition ahead of compatriot Tulake Nuermaimaiti's 59.27m, and Zhang Wenxiu won the women's hammer with a throw of 72.23m.

The meagre pickings left for the other teams on Tuesday included South Korea's third and fourth 10-pin bowling golds of the Games and victories for Taiwan and Japan in the soft tennis.

China has brought its biggest ever squad, including 11 Athens Olympics gold-medallists and a host of younger talent, as it bids to top the medals table at the next Olympics in Beijing.

About 1,900 athletes are competing for 234 gold medals in 17 sports at the fourth East Asian Games, the biggest tournament ever held in this autonomous southern Chinese territory.