HARBIN, Heilongjiang province: Zhou Yang got China's first gold medal of the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin yesterday, by winning the women's 1,500m short track speed skating event.

Despite her individule success, Zhou's gold was the only crown to come China's way on the opening day of the competition. Archrival South Korea captured the rest to top the overall medal table at the end of play with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. China was second at 1-3-2.

Zhou and her teammates threw down the gauntlet with their 1-2-3 finish in the 1,500m but Korea had a stinging answer in the form of its own sweep of the medals in the men's event in frosty Harbin.