Chinese athletes continued to shine at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, leading the medal tally with 43 gold, 30 silver and 14 bronze medals on Monday.
In archery, China's Chen Minyi and Zhang Tianxin defended their title in the mixed team W1 category, defeating Sarka Pultar Musilova and David Drahoninsky of the Czech Republic 147-143 in the final. The two pairs met three years ago at Tokyo 2020, where Chen and Zhang also gained the upper hand. This was Chen's second gold in Paris after she won the women's individual W1.
Meanwhile, para-archer Jodie Grinham from Britain made history as the first pregnant athlete to win a Paralympic medal. Seven months into pregnancy, she won the mixed team compound open with teammate Nathan Macqueen.
Xiao Zuxian competes in the women's Para Badminton singles SL3 final at the Paris Paralympic Games in Paris, France, September 2, 2024. /CFP
In badminton, Chinese Paralympians won seven gold medals, and brought the overall number to eight as of Monday.
Xiao Zuxian won the women's singles SL3 title, and Cheng Hefang won in the SL4 category. Qu Zimo successfully defended his title in the men's WH1 category, while Liu Yutong did the same in the women's WH2 category. Paralympic debutant Li Fengmei made her mark by clinching two gold medals in the women's singles and mixed doubles SH6 categories on the same day.
Silver medalist He Shanshan He (R) and her guide You Junjie pose for a photo during the women's 1500m T11 medal ceremony at the Paris Paralympic Games in Paris, France, September 2, 2024. /CFP
In athletics, China's He Shanshan took silver with an Asian record time of 4 minutes 32.82 seconds in the women's 1500 meters T11 final, while Ethiopia's Yayesh Gate Tesfaw took gold after blazing to a world record of 4 minutes 27.68 seconds.
Also on Monday, Lin Ximei won gold in the women's individual BC4 final, securing China's first-ever Paralympic gold medal in boccia. Aurelie Aubert won France's first Paralympic Games boccia medal with a gold in the women's individual BC1.