The United States swim team underlined their strength in the pool Sunday at the World University Games by easily winning three out of four events. China grabbed a gold medal each in fencing, gymnastics and diving on Day Four to increase its haul of medals to 28, including eight gold. But South Korea still leads the gold medal standings with 11.
Reigning Olympic champion Zhong Man inspired China to a hard-fought victory in the men's team saber, defeating Italy 45-43 in the final.
The Chinese team, without the service of individual champion Wang Zhijing due to injury, trailed by as many as seven points in the match but Zhong helped China stage an impressive comeback to take gold.
Zhong, the gold medalist at Beijing Olympics, heaped praises on his younger teammates He Wei and Liu Xiao. "The Italians are very strong but we survived huge pressure," said Zhong. "He and Liu are key to our victory."
China's success in diving continued as Pan Zhaowei overcame a strong challenge from Mexico's Yahel Ernesto Castillo to win men's 3m springboard. So far, China has won three gold medals in as many events and is expected to take away the bulk of remaining nine gold medals.
Jiang Yuyuan of China won the gold medal on balance beam, the silver on floor exercise and the bronze on uneven bars, adding to her individual all-round title.
British veteran Beth Tweddle took titles on uneven bars and floor exercise, her two specialities, to be the only gymnast crowned twice Sunday.
On women's vault, 2008 Olympic champion Hong Un Jong of DPR Korea defeated three-time world champion Cheng Fei of China.
South Korea took two titles with Kim Soo Myun winning the men's floor exercise and Kim Ji Hoon first on high bar.
Hungary's Krisztian Berki broke the Asian domination in Belgrade by winning the pommel horse title. The European men earned the next three titles as well: Russia's Alexander Balandin (rings), Romania' s Flavius Koczi (vault) and France's Cyril Tommasonne on parallel bars.
On the first day of swimming action, the United States finished 1-2 in the women's 400m individual medley event with Ava Ohlgren capturing the gold medal with a time of 4:40.61 and compatriot Lyndsay De Paul having silver in 4:41.94.
The American quartet of Michelle King, Madison Kennedy, Ava Ohlgren and Morgan Scroggy won the women's 4x100m freestyle relay final in 3:41.81, beofre their compatriots William Copeland, Chris Brady, Eric McGinnis and Doug Robison followed suit in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, touching home with a Games-record time of 3: 14.74.
Poland's Przemyslaw Stanczyk denied a U.S. clean sweep of gold medals when he held off a hard-charging Chad La Tourette of the United States in the men's 400 freestyle final, 3:46.72 to 3:46.93.
In water polo, China's women's team defeated Australia 8-6 and advanced to the semifinals by ending up first in Group B.
"We came here for gold and we will give our best. Whatever happens, we will take only positive impressions with us," said Gao Ao of the Chinese team.
There are 12 gold medals at stake on Monday.