Jamaica mined gold for the first time at the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China yesterday.

Terry Burges from Special Olympics, Westmoreland, won the men's singles event in Bocce in convincing fashion. He won all three games in the final, stopping Germany and the United States en route to the top of the podium.

In the same event, Esther Pair just missed out on a medal after placing fourth in the ladies singles.

Yesterday's gold pushed Jamaica's tally at the meet to nine - one gold, a silver and seven bronze.

In swimming, Lutherina Erskine splashed up two more medals. She pocketed silver in the 50 metres freestyle in 42.76 seconds to establish a personal best. She then clocked 36.37 to take bronze in the 25 metres breaststroke. Kadian Ingleton was fourth in the 100m freestyle final in one minute 23.15 seconds.

Male swimmer Leon Barclay won heat five of the 100m freestyle in one minute 29.23 seconds. His time was much slower than heat 15 winner, Gavin Ogilvie, who enters today's final with the second-fastest time overall, 1:24.40.

Action today

Several athletes will be in action in track and field today. Shana Kay Ismay, Joy Williams, Wendy O'Connor, Deonna Martel and Camille Rhudd will run in the heats of the girls' 100m. Theodore Ayton, Charles Barnet and Oshane Daley are down for the boys' 100m, while André Hendricks will run in the 1500m heats.

Monique Brown and Andromedia Scott are in today's final of the 4x200m roller skating event. They won their semi-final ahead of India in 42.77, beating India's Manyala and Nasareen Begum. The boys (Richard Habib and Ryan Farquarhson) will compete in both the 500m and 4x200m finals.

The basketballers defeated Greece 37-32 in their latest pool match. Valentinus Robinson scored 22 points, while Omar Brown had 13 points and 22 rebounds. The Jamaicans will next face Poland.

In what is expected to be a fierce encounter, Jamaica's Special Olympic Reggae Boyz will face hosts China today. Over 20,000 fans are expected to watch the match. The Special Olympic Reggae Boyz will also face Germany and Azerbaijan in their pool.

Jamaica's volleyballers are in action against Greece today. In an earlier match they defeated Japan 25-13, 25-16.