Shot Put Women: Inspired Gong beats Schwantiz to give China great start

Two world leading puts by Gong Lijiao gave China a spectacular winning start to the evening as the world and Olympic bronze medallist beat Christina Schwanitz on home soil in the first event of the night. Lijiao opened with 19.82m, and immediately responded to her German opponent’s second round effort of 19.94m with 20.23m. She produced three other efforts over 19m to take her first Shanghai Diamond League win since 2011. Guo Tianqian made it a brilliant opening competition for the hosts as the 19-year-old world junior champion improved her own personal best by 20cm to take fourth with 18.57m, just 9cm behind third-placed Tia Brooks, USA’s Moscow world finalist.