BEIJING — Chen Xiexia got China off to a perfect start in the weightlifting competition today, winning gold in the women's 48-kilogram weight category and setting an Olympic record.

Turkey's Sibel Ozkan won the silver medal, while Chen Wei-Ling of Taiwan finished third.

Chen Xiexia, last year's world champion, dominated today's competition from start to finish, lifting 95 kilograms in the snatch and 117 kilograms in the clean and jerk. She set Olympic records in the latter event and for the total score.

Ozkan was a distant second with a total of 199 kilograms, 3 kilograms ahead of Chen Wei-Ling.

The 2004 Olympic champion, Nurcan Taylan of Turkey, was eliminated after three failed attempts in the snatch.

It was clear already after that event, in which the bar is raised above the head in one continuous motion, that Chen Xiexia was in a class of her own.

Buoyed by chants from the home crowd, the 25-year-old completed her three attempts in the snatch with ease. She was already 7 kilograms ahead of Ozkan after that event.

Chen Wei-Ling had a shot at the silver medal but failed in her final attempt at 115 kilograms, collapsing to the floor as the bar dropped.

Wrapped in a Chinese flag, Chen Xiexia received the gold medal and sang along with the crowd to the Chinese national anthem.

SHOOTING

CZECH WOMAN WINS FIRST GOLD OF GAMES

Katerina Emmons spoiled China's bid for the first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics today by winning the 10-meter air rifle for the Czech Republic.

Emmons, the wife of American shooter Matt Emmons, finished with an Olympic record of 503.5 points after shooting a perfect 400 in qualifying. Lioubov Galkina of Russia won the silver and Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia took the bronze.

The big surprise was a fifth-place finish by China's Du Li. She won the event four years ago in Athens. Du was just a point behind Emmons after qualifying.

Jamie Beyerle of Lebanon, Pa., finished fourth.

Also today, Pang Wei of China won the gold medal in the men's 10-meter air pistol. Jin Jong-oh of South Korea won the silver, and Kim Jong Su of North Korea took the bronze.

DOPING

GREEK SPRINTER FAILS TEST, MAY BE REMOVED

A Greek sprinter failed a drug test a few days before the Olympics and could be removed from the Games.

IOC medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist said today he was notified that a male runner, identified by Greek television as 29-year-old Tassos Gousis, tested positive for a steroid in Greece on Monday. The athlete was with the Greek team at a training camp in Japan when informed of the result.

TENNIS

KARLOVIC, LJUBICIC PULL OUT OF MEN'S SINGLES

Ivo Karlovic of Croatia withdrew from the Olympics because of a stomach illness today. Fellow Croatian Ivan Ljubicic also pulled out of singles due to back trouble. He still plans to play doubles in the tournament, which begins tomorrow.

Karlovic, seeded 14th, was replaced in the draw by Yu Xinyuan of China. Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic becomes the No. 17 seed and takes Karlovic's place in the draw. Yu will face Berdych in the first round.

Ljubicic was replaced by Devin Mullings of the Bahamas.