Guo Lingling celebrates winning gold in the women’s -41kg powerlifting at the Tokyo Paralympic Games on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

Team China climbed to the top of the medal tally after the second matchday at the Tokyo Paralympic Games on Thursday with three golds, four silvers and eight bronzes, bringing their total to eight golds, five silvers and 10 bronzes.

Powerlifter Guo Lingling had an overwhelming victory in the women's -41kg event.

At the Tokyo International Forum, Guo, in her debut at the Paralympics, successfully lifted 105 kilograms in her first attempt, shattering the previous Paralympic record of 104 kilograms. 

In her second attempt, the Chinese powerlifter started to challenge her own world record of 107 kilograms but failed to hoist 108 kilograms. After quick and swift adjustment, she succeeded in her third attempt for a fresh world record, which did not stop her from pursuing a higher target.

Guo applied for a fourth attempt, which would not count for this match according to Paralympic rules, and astonishingly lifted 109 kilograms, refreshing the world record once again.

"I have prepared for two years for the Tokyo Paralympics, and winning a Paralympic gold medal has been my dream. I feel elated to be able to make my dream come true," she told Xinhua.

In the women's -45kg competition, Chinese veteran Cui Zhe, who was competing in the Paralympics for the fourth time since Beijing 2008, won the silver with 102 kilograms, five kilos short of gold medalist Latifat Tijani of Nigeria.

"It is a little bit regrettable that I was not able to win a gold medal, but I am quite satisfied with my performance today considering my health condition is not very good," Cui said.

Fencer Tan Shumei claimed gold in the women's epee individual Category B. Chinese fencers swept all four saber golds on Wednesday.

The quartet of Zhang Li, Zheng Tao, Yuan Weiyi and Lu Dong won another gold in the mixed 4x50 meters freestyle relay 20 points final.