Tokyo Olympics: China in gold rush as Hong Kong watches another medal chance bite the dust

Diving ‘Dream Team’ of Shi Tingmao and Wang Han live up to billing, then weightlifters Li Fabin and Chen Lijun muscle way to gold

Hong Kong’s Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem make tearful exit in table tennis, with little to cheer on day two of the Games

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China’s Li Fabin, known as the ‘Flamingo’, wins the men’s 61kg weightlifting gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:15pm, 25 Jul 2021Updated: 1:18pm, 26 Jul 2021

China have come out swinging at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, sitting atop the medal table and equalling their best start to a Games after two days. Hong Kong, meanwhile, suffered another body blow in their quest for medals.

After a golden opening on Saturday, China bagged three more gold medals at the pandemic-delayed Games, led by the “Dream Team” diving duo of Shi Tingmao and Wang Han in the women’s synchronised 3-metre springboard.

China’s formidable weightlifters then delivered again, with 28-year-old Li Fabin – known for his unique “flamingo” lifting technique in which he raises one leg for superior balance – setting two new Olympic records in the men’s 61kg category. World champion Chen Lijun then snatched the 67kg title with a dramatic last lift.

China have six gold medals already, equalling their two-day haul at the London Games in 2012. They went on to win 38 golds nine years ago, behind their record haul of 48 at their home Games in Beijing in 2008.

China’s Shi Tingmao and Wang Han set the scene in the diving pool, winning the women's synchronised 3m springboard. Photo: AFP

Sunday started as badly as Saturday did for Hong Kong when the well-fancied mixed doubles pairing of Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem suffered a controversial quarter-final loss to Emmanuel Lebesson and Yuan Jia Nan, of France.