Wang Fang led throughout the race to set a new world's record in the women's 100-meter T36 (cerebral palsy) event at the 12th Paralympic Games on Wednesday.

 It was China's ninth athletics gold medal in Athens.

The 21-year-old from northern China's port city of Tianjin sprinted to the finish line some eight meters ahead of the competition to clock a new world record of 13.88 seconds. She set the previous record of 14.56 in October last year.

Briton Hazel Robson, the Sydney gold medalist in the event, finished 1.43 seconds behind for the silver and Japanese Yuki Kato took the bronze in 15.53.

"I am here to win and I am happy with my performance today," Wang said after the race. "I was a bit nervous before the race, but the moment I started, things went well and I ran to my form today."

"I certainly hope to compete in the 2008 Games in Beijing and I'll start training right after Athens," she added.

Meanwhile, at the Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall, China's 2003 World Wheelchair Games champion powerlifter Wang Jian stopped Sydney Paralympics gold medalist Ahmed Goumaa Ahmed of Egypt to take the men's 56-kilogram title.

Wang, 37, lifted 185 kilograms, five more than Ahmed, for his first Paralympic gold medal. He took the silver in Atlanta and bronze in Sydney, competing in the 52-kilogram category in the two previous games.

"I am determined to continue until Beijing [in 2008] and win again in my country," Wang Jian said after his victory.

Powerlifters have one day off Thursday before picking up the bells on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2004)