HANGZHOU, China - Beijing Paralympics silver medalist Cui Zhe won the first powerlifting gold medal of the Eighth National Para Games of China on Wednsday, surpassing world record at 106.5kg in women's 40kg event.

Cui Zhe celebrates after winning the first powerlifting gold medal at the Eighth National Para Games of China in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Oct 12, 2011. [Photo/hznews.hangzhou.com.cn]

Cui, 24, was struck by poliomyelitis when she was two years old which caused her paralysed. She was 0.3kg overweight before the contest. After taking emergency measures, the Asian Para Games champion even cut her hair to meet the line eventually.

With three successful attempts at 92kg, 98kg and 103kg, Cui decided to add weight to the bar hitting 106.5 kg, 0.5kg more than the former world record.

"Daddy and mommy, I made it!" shouted the introvert girl from a small village of Shandong Province in east China, after getting up from the board. The whole audience in Hangzhou's Indoor Stadium stood up to hail for her.

According to Cui's coach Li Weipu, Cui suffers from dysphoria, anxious emotion due to physical state, whenever she stands on the court.

"Her smile is sweet and beautiful. So if she's nervous, I always make her smile to me before the contest, and give her the greatest applause that I can express," said Li.

Deng Pufang, honorary chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation, awarded Cui and encouraged her to fight for further medals.

Chen Meijiao from Guangdong captured silver with 83.0kg while Hebei's Guo Lingling pocketed bronze with a 11.0kg difference.

The Eighth National Para Games of China run from October 11 to 19, mainly in Hangzhou and its neighbouring cities like Jiaxing and Shaoxing. The Games features 18 sports including three newly-added sports chess, darts and table tennis for the blind.