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BEIJING 2008: Aussie Matthew Cowdrey matches du Toit’s five golds

So Wa Wai of Hong Kong celebrates after winning the final of the men’s 200m T36 class at the Paralympic Games in Beijing yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

China established a huge lead at the top of the Paralympics medals table yesterday evening, racing to 80 golds — almost double the haul of its nearest rival on the last night of swimming in Beijing.

Vying with Britain for top spot earlier in these Games, the host nation now has 187 medals in total compared with Britain’s 41 golds and 96 medals.

As well as dominating the athletics events with a remarkable 34 golds, China’s haul includes 13 swimming golds, 10 in table tennis and eight in powerlifting.

On the final night of action in the Water Cube, Australia’s Matthew Cowdrey won his fifth gold, to match South Africa’s Olympian Natalie du Toit.

He helped his team to a first-place finish in the men’s 4x100m medley to go with his earlier golds in the 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle.

China also took triple gold in fencing to take their total of fencing golds to five, with Zhang Chuncui shocking Hong Kong’s world champion Yu Chui Yee, while Tian Jianquan and Hu Daoliang also won.

During the morning, Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc — chasing a fifth gold in these Games — qualified for the 1,500m final in her class as she bids to add to her 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m titles.

South Africa’s Du Toit, who finished 16th in the Olympic 10km marathon swim last month, pledged earlier yesterday to aim for more Olympic and Paralympic glory.

Taiwanese Paralympians MONDAY, SEPT. 15 Swimming Women’s 50m Freestyle S6 Heat 2 Alice Luo Hsiao-hung placed 6th Eliminated

Du Toit, who also won five Paralympic golds and a silver in Athens, is aiming to qualify for the 800m freestyle in the pool at the London Olympics as well as the 10km, where she is hoping for a top 10 or top five placing.

She also vowed to go for seven golds at the London Paralympics, adding the 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke to her program.

Partyka won table tennis gold in her class last week, but failed to inspire Poland to victory in the gold medal match of the team competition.

With the Games due to end tomorrow, London Mayor Boris Johnson left for Beijing to accept the Paralympic flag at the Games’ closing ceremony.

“My aim is to make the 2012 Games the most accessible and unified Games yet, Games that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come,” he said.
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