KAZAN, July 8 (R-Sport) – Russia is at the top of the medal table by a wide margin after day three of the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, holding strong at a total of 43, 28 more than second-place Japan.
Heading into day four of the biennial Universiade, Russia has 19 gold medals along with nine silver and 15 bronze. Japan finished Monday with four gold, six silver and five bronze.
China is third in the table with 14 medals. Ukraine has 13 and Turkmenistan, which did not send athletes to the previous three Universiades, has nine to round out the top five. All of Turkmenistan's medals came on Monday in belt wrestling - a sport making its Universiade debut.
Sprinter Aurieyall Scott, who finished sixth in the 100m at the USA outdoor track and field championships last month, won the Universiade event – and the first gold for the Americans – on Monday with a time of 11.28. Lithuania’s Lina Grincikaite trailed by four-hundredths of a second. Andreea Luiza Ograzeanu finished third.
In the pool, China and Russia grabbed 11 of the 12 diving podiums, missing the sweep after up-and-coming Australian Samantha Mills won gold in the women’s 1m springboard with a score of 281.40 points. It was Australia's first gold at this year's Games. The U.S., meanwhile, took bronze in the synchronized swimming team event behind Russia and Japan, which also grabbed gold and silver, respectively, in duets.
Israel also picked up its first medal as Alice Hester Schlesinger won the 66kg category in women’s freestyle belt wresting.
There are 30 medals available on Tuesday, including 11 in track and field. The Universiade runs through July 17.
