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China is already halfway to its stated goal of 20 gold medals at the Athens Olympics after going into the fourth day of the 16-day competition. 

  Wang Lei and Tan Xue won two fencing silvers for China Tuesday

Early on Tuesday, China's men's basketball team walked out of the shadow of Sunday's (August 15) defeat to Spain, chalking up a crucial first victory in Athens.

Facing rumors about his potential retirement from the national team, NBA star center Yao Ming answered with a brilliant 39-point performance in China's 69-62 victory over New Zealand.

The victory kept alive China's hopes of making the quarterfinals while the women's football team has a dim hope of entering quarterfinals.

China's shooters continued their good performance with Olympic debutant Wang Zheng grabbing the bronze medal of the men's double trap.

On the fourth day competition, China's ping pong players made their debut at the Games.

China's promising star Wang Hao beat German veteran Jorg Rosskopf 4-1 to book a third-round victory.

World No.1 Wang Liqin outclassed his Dutch rival in a blitz within 20 minutes.

Later Tuesday, China's fencers Tan Xue and Wang Lei both won silver medal in women's individual sabre and men's fencing.

China's female gymnasts ranked the six while Romania won the gold medal.

China still stands atop the medal table with 10 golds, six silvers and two bronze medals. The United States has surpassed Australia with six golds, seven silvers and six bronzes.

Australia ranks the third in the medal tally followed by Japan and Ukraine. 

Editor: Lin Shujun