Taipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) Home team Taiwan got off to a strong start Wednesdady, winning seven gold medals, four silvers, and five bronzes on the opening day of the 2007 World Wheelchair and Amputee Games, which are being held in Taiwan for the first time Sept. 9-19.
The host did surprisingly well in table tennis and shooting, the only categories held Wednesday. In table tennis, Taiwan swept three golds, three silvers and four bronzes, taking all the medals in women's wheelchair and standing events.
Hsu Chih-shan, a poliomyelitis patient since he was three, pulled off the biggest upset of the day, defeating his teammate Chu Jen-te 3-2 in men's standing event final after trailing 2-0 early. Hsu, who ranked 15th in the world, said he hoped that the gold medal can earn him enough points to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
The eight events in the competition are archery, athletics, fencing, powerlifting, shooting, swimming, badminton and table tennis. Apart from powerlifting, the events are qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
The organizers of the event include the Chinese Taipei Sports Federation for the Disabled (CTSFD) and the Chinese Taipei Paralympics Committee.
Taiwan won 11 gold medals, 16 silvers and six bronzes in the inaugural biennial competition held in Brazil in 2005.