Host Russia enjoys flying start at Universiade

KAZAN, Russia - Host Russia enjoyed a flying start on the first competition day at the 27th Summer Universiade, winning 6 gold, 2 silver and 8 bronze medals on Sunday.

Australian diver Samantha Mills wins the women's 1-meter springboard at the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, July 7, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

Yet it was Australian diver Samantha Mills who turned out to be the first gold medalist of Kazan Universiade as she edged her Chinese opponents for the title of women's 1-meter springboard.

Jia Dongjin finished second while her Chinese teammate Wang Liting settled for the bronze due to a blunder in her fourth dive.

Then the Universiade became the stage for the host as Russian athletes won three gold medals from belt wrestling, one each from diving, athletics and gymnastics.

Belt wrestling is introduced into Universiade for the first time and Russia wrestlers are very strong in the sport.

South Korea surprisingly took the second place on medal table with three gold and one bronze medals.

South Korea's gold medals are from judo, women's individual epee and badminton's mixed team event.

In both the women's individual epee and badminton's mixed team events, South Koreans claimed the titles at the expense of their Chinese opponents.

China finished the day with two gold medals, all from weightlifting. Defending Universiade champion Xiao Hongyu proved she was still too strong for the other weightlifters as she took the gold of women's 48kg category with a total of 187kg.

Xu Jingui added the second gold for China as he set a new clean and jerk Universiade record before winning the title at 264kg.

China also won 4 silver and 2 bronze medals on Sunday to place third on medal table.

China sent a total of 280 athletes, mostly amateurs, to Kazan Universiade. They will compete in 21 out of 27 sports. It will be hard for China to repeat the glory four years ago in Shenzhen when China took 75 gold medas for the top spot on medal table.

The 27th Summer Universiade runs from July 6 to 17 with a record entry of more than 13,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 162 countries and regions.