The other big prizes

Chinese commentators have a habit of paying a lot of attention as to who will be the first to win in a sports event.

They were in for a surprise at the Olympic Games yesterday. In the women's 10-m air rifle, the Chinese medal hopefuls failed to come out top as expected. The first gold medal was bagged by Katerina Emmons, a Czech sharpshooter.

While in the weightlifting competition, Chen Xiexia was in perfect shape and won gold in the women's 48-kg weight category and set an Olympic record. But as the Cantonese (on the southern coast of China) farm girl-turned athlete later told the press, she had no idea she would earn China's first gold.