China win 13 gold medals on second day

Sun Qichao of China react on the podium after winning the men's 400m T12 gold medal of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept 9, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

RIO DE JANEIRO - China won five gold medals in the pool as they extended their lead at the top of the medal standings at the Rio Paralympics on Friday.

The Asian nation also secured four gold medals in athletics, two in cycling and one each in shooting and powerlifting to finish the day with 20 gold medals.

Britain were second in the standings with 12 gold medals and Ukraine were third with seven.

China's first victory of the day came when powerlifter Hu Dandan smashed her own world record to win gold in the women's -45kg division.

The 27-year-old lifted 108kg, to break the previous record of 106kg, which she set in Kuala Lumpur in February.

Nigeria's Latifat Tijani took silver with a lift of 106kg and Britain's Zoe Newson claimed bronze with a best effort of 102kg.

A delighted Hu, who had already secured the gold medal before her world record lift, said Rio had become "her lucky place".

"I could not sleep all night yesterday, but I knew I could get a medal and I did," she said. "I really love Rio because it is my lucky place. It is a place that has made my dream come true."

Hu, whose impairment is the result of polio, competed in wheelchair tennis at the Beijing 2008 Games before switching to powerlifting in 2009.

She adapted quickly to her new sport and by 2014 was the Asian Para Games champion in the -45kg category.