Athletes from around the world engaged in heated competition at the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade.

Nations including China, Japan, Korea and France won a series of gold medals over the first four days, up until July 6, racing for top spot in the full medal count.

China won three golds in shooting alone and added medals in diving and swimming, too. The nation led the medals race by raising its gold medal tally to seven, as of July 6. Peng Jianfeng won China's first gold medal in the men's 3-meter springboard diving event held at the Nambu University International Aquatics Center on July 4. China added two more medals in women's platform and women's 1-meter springboard.

China also excelled in shooting. On July 5, Liu Zhiguo claimed the gold medal in the men's 10-meter air rifle finals held at a shooting range in Naju, Jeollanam-do Province (South Jeolla Province). The country also won men's and women's air rifle team competitions.


Japan, the origin of judo, won three gold medals in the martial art alone. With five gold medals, it was ranked second in the full medal count. Harasawa Hisayoshi won in the men's +100 kilogram judo category in the final held at the Yeomju Bitgoeul Gymnasium in Gwangju. Asahina Sarah topped the women's +78 kilogram category, while Tsugane Megumi finished first in the women's -64 kilogram category. Japan also won gold medals in the men's gymnastics team competition and the men's 100 meter backstroke swimming race.

Korea won three gold medals in judo and came in third in the full medal count. In the men's -100 kilogram judo final on July 4, Cho Guham beat France's Clement Delvert to win Korea's first medal in Gwangju. Cho has now won two gold medals in a row in this event, after winning his first at the Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, in 2013.



In fencing, Song Jonghun from Korea won the men's sabre individual against Russia's Dmitry Danilenko, 15-12, in the final held at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju. This was the second gold medal for Korea in Gwangju.

Gwak Donghan from Korea beat Russia's Khusen Khalmurzaev with a shoulder throw, winning by one point in the men's -90 kilogram judo competition on July 5. Gwak won a gold medal in the same class at the Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, in 2013. Kim Seongyeon also won a gold medal by defeating Kazuki Osanai from Japan in the women's -70 kilogram judo match.




France won three medals in fencing alone. Yannick Philippe Andre Borel, Dimodi Laurence Epee, and Jeromine frederique Mpah Njanga won the men's epee individual, women's epee individual and women's foil individual events, respectively. France also won a gold medal in judo.

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News
jun2@korea.kr