(BEIJING, August 14) -- Shocks, surprises and inspirational performances were the order of the day on a rain-soaked day six of Beijing 2008, which caused postponement of many outdoor sports.
The entire days' Sailing competition was cancelled and most of the Games' Baseball competition, while the finals of the Men's Slalom Canoe Doubles (C2) and Women's Slalom Kayak Singles (K1) have been held over until tomorrow (Friday, August 15).
Play was also suspended for most of the day in the Beijing 2008 Tennis tournament -- but not long enough to prevent arguably the shock of the entire Games so far as James Blake of the United States defeated World No. 1 Roger Federer 6-4, 7-6 in the Men's Singles quarterfinals to leave the Swiss player, despite his dominance of men's tennis over recent years, without a medal from three Olympics Games.
At the end of day six hosts China stand proudly aloft the Beijing 2008 medal stable with 22 gold medals and 35 in total…and not just because of big name favorites in traditionally strong sports.
With no Diving or Weightlifting medals at stake, for example – sports in which China has been dominant at the Games -- it was a day for the host country's underdogs to growl.
No doubt about performance of the day. There was no sign of Gene Kelly at the Olympic Green Archery Field, but Chinese fans were left singing and dancing in the rain as, against all odds, China's Zhang Juanjuan out-fired World No. 1, Park Sung-hyun of the all conquering Republic of Korea (ROK) archery team, to win an enthralling Women's Individual final. It was a major upset, as 27th seed Zhang edged past top-seeded Park with the final shot of the match to become the first non-Republic of Korea Olympic gold medalist in the event since 1980.
Zhang also defeated World No. 2 Yun Ok-hee (ROK), who took third, in an equally exciting semifinal clash. Yun defeated Kwon Un-sil of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the bronze medal match.
Less of a surprise was China's Yang Wei winning the Men's Individual All-Around Artistic Gymnastics final with a total of 94.575 points, well ahead Uchimura Kohei of Japan, who scored a total of 91.975. The bronze medal went to Frenchman Benoit Caranobe.
There was host joy in Judo, too. Yang Xiuli won gold in the Women's -78kg by defeating Cuba's Yalennis Castillo with a hantei after overtime failed to decide a winner.
Tuvshinbayar Naidan from Mongolia claimed the Men's 100kg class, beating Askhat Zhitkeyev from Kazakhstan in the final. Bronze medals went to Movlud Miraliyev from Azerbaijan and Henk Grol from the Netherlands.
China also prospered in Shooting, with Du Li winning gold in theWomen's 50m Rifle Three Positions with a new Olympic record score of 690.3 points. Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic became a Games' double medalist by following her opening-day gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle with a silver medal. Cuba's Eglis Yaima Cruz won the bronze medal.
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