Wang Fang wrapped up her second Paralympics trip with a "double-double" as the 25-year-old Chinese added the 100m T36 gold to her 200m title. She won both events in Athens in 2004, too.

"I feel relaxed and relieved now," said Wang. "I haven't been back home for more than one year. I miss my family very much, and I hope that I can have a reunion as soon as possible."

Also at the Bird's Nest stadium, the Chinese were triumphant in two relay events - men's 4x100m relay T11-13 and women's 4x100m T53-54.

Elsewhere, China claimed three team events in table tennis, and Qi Dong snared the host nation's ninth gold in powerlifting.

Outside the sporting arena, South African amputee swimmer Natalie du Toit and Panaman visually impaired runner Said Gomez were named winners of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award, the International Paralympic Committee said.

Dr Whang Youn Dai, after whom the award is named, will present the award to Du Toit and Gomez at the closing ceremony on Wednesday.

Whang, from South Korea, contracted polio at the age of three, but became that country's first disabled female physician, and has dedicated her life to working for people with disabilities. She instituted the award at the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul.

Du Toit, who won five gold medals for the second consecutive Paralympics, was given the award after nominations were received from the Chefs de Mission of 24 delegations, the IPC and members of the press corps.

Gomez, 44, was competing in his fifth Paralympics, but was travelling with national Paralympic Committee funding for the first time after he paid for his own trips on the first four occasions.

More than 4,000 athletes from 147 countries and regions are competing in 20 sports over five categories of disability, with 472 gold medals at stake.

Eight gold medals are up for grabs on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2008)