Children from 56 Chinese ethnic groups sing national anthem as fireworks light up sky during opening ceremony in Beijing, 08 Aug 2008

Host country China has taken two gold medals on the first full day of competition at the Beijing Olympics, one day after a worldwide television audience saw a lavish display at the opening ceremonies.

In the women's 48-kilogram weightlifting competition, China's Chen Xiexia won the gold.  Turkey's Sibel Ozkan earned the silver, while Taiwan's Chen Wei-Ling took the bronze medal.

In the men's 10-meter air pistol event, China's Pang Wei won the gold with a total of 688.2 points, followed by competitors from South Korea's Jin Jong-oh and North Korea's Kim Jong Su.

The Czech Republic's Katerina Emmons, who is married to U.S. shooter Matt Emmons, won the first gold of these Games, taking the women's 10-meter air rifle, while setting an Olympic record (503.5 points).  The silver medal went to Russia's Lioubov Galinka, while Croatia's Snjezana Pejcic earned the bronze.

In the men's cycling road race, Samuel Sanchez of Spain won the gold medal, taking the 254-kilometer mountainous race on a humid day in six hours, 23 minutes, 49 seconds.  Italy's Davide Rebellin took the silver, followed by Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara in third place.

In the men's 60-kilogram judo competition, South Korea's Choi Min-ho won the gold medal by defeating world number one Ludwig Paischer of Austria.  The bronze medals went to Rishod Sobirov of Uzbekistan and Ruben Houkes of the Netherlands.

In the women's 48 kilogram judo competition, Alina Alexandra Dumitru of Romania won the gold with Yanet Bermoy of Cuba earning the silver.  The bronze medals went to Argentina's Paula Belen Pareto and Ryoko Tani of Japan.

The United States swept the medals in the women's sabre fencing with 2004 gold medalist Mariel Zagunis beating countrywoman and top seed Sada Jacobson in the gold medal match, 15-8.  Second seed Becca Ward of the United States took the bronze with a 15-14 win over Russian Sofiya Velikaya.