Click into Special Report on Athens 2004 Olmypic Games>>>

China has slowed its step to harvest medals at the ongoing Athens Olympic Games after a flying start in the first day of competition with four golds.

By 11 p.m. August 15 Beijing time, China has secured only one gold medal after female judoka Xian Dongmei claimed the 52kg title.

29-year-old Xian Dongmei won the final by pressing Japanese Yuki Yokosawa, the bronze medalist of the 2003 world champions, to mat for more than 25 seconds.

China's hopes of grabbing the third gold shooting events vanished after Ren Jie, the only Chinese shooter in the final eight, just edged out of the top three in women's 10 meter air pistol.

She was bumped out by Maria Grozdeva of Bulgaria in a shoot-out that decided the bronze-medalist.

Defending Olympic champion Tao Luna suffered an early exit in the qualifying round.

Later, the Chinese men's basketball team, who are aiming to finish within top eight in Athens, suffered a humiliating 83-58 loss to a much stronger Spanish team in the opener.

Chinese NBA star Yao Ming contributed 12 points and had eight rebounds but fouled out with about four minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

China will take on their second group opponents New Zealand on Tuesday.

Later, the Chinese delegation will start the quest for medals in swimming, weightlifting and epee events.

So far, China leads the medal table with five golds, one silver and one bronze. 

Editor: Lin Shujun