Windsurfer Yin Jian won China's first ever gold in an Olympic sailing discipline in the medal race at Qingdao.

The breakthrough in China's sailing sports has delighted all the spectators at the competition venue.

CRI field reporter Chen Xi has the story.

Thousands of Chinese fans on the shore of Qingdao, southeast of Beijing, went into a flag waving frenzy when it became clear that Yin Jian's third place finish in the medal race was enough to claim the gold.

The Chinese windsurfer Yin Jian won the host country's first sailing gold on Wednesday, while New Zealander Tom Ashley took the gold medal in the men's race.

Yin Jian was very excited after the competition, saying she was thoroughly prepared for the Olympic sailing event in her country.

"I have been preparing for the Beijing Olympics since the last session. My primary goal was always to win a gold medal for the Chinese sailing team."

Yin Jian, a silver medalist in Athens four years ago, won by the narrowest possible margin — just one point ahead of silver medalist Alessandra Sensini of Italy after 11 races, including the final that counts double.

China's sailing team captain, Yao Xinpei, was thrown into water by his excited team members. He said this success highlighted the breakthrough that Chinese sailing team has made.

"It showed the improvement of the overall level of Chinese sailing. Yin Jian proved that she was an all-around mature sailor with a burning desire to win. Today's medal race was really a classic and it will be definitely recorded in the history of Chinese sailing."

China has already won two Olympic silver medals in windsurfing, with Zhang Xiaodong in Barcelona in 1992 and Yin Jian in Athens in 2004, plus the Laser Radial bronze won by Xu Lijia on Tuesday in Qingdao.

Chen Xi, CRI News, Qingdao.