Italy's Carlo Molfetta won the first gold medal at the 22nd World University Games here on Friday as China and South Korea split the other two golds on offer in the first full day of competition.

Chinese fencer Zhang Liangliang downed South Korean Ha Chang-duk 15-11for the men's individual foil title,while Han Jin-sun delighted the hosts after defeating Darcy Kimmich in the final of the women's 63kg taekwondo.

Molfetta,who upset South Korea's title favorite Cho Ba-ro in the second round,edged Petro Davydov of Ukraine in the final to clinch the men's 72kg taekwondo gold.

Gwladys Epangwe of France and Ukraine's Olga Cherkun shared the bronze medal of the women's 63kg taekwondo,while Chinese Taipei's Chen Shih-kai and Nir David Moriah both placed third in the men's taekwondo.

Yusuke Fukuda and Kyoya Ichikawa,who lost to Zhang and Ha respectively in the men's foil semifinals,grabbed two bronze medals for Japan.

The Chinese men's soccer team now have a glimpse of hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals after losing 3-2 to Iran.

Iran took

the lead through Ali Janmaleki on 24minutes and Payam Pourrankoh doubled their advantage 15minutes after halftime.

China,who were beaten 2-1by Canada in their opening game on Wednesday,pulled one goal back thanks to a 73th-minute penalty kick by midfielder Yuan Wei,only for Mehdi Amirabadi to restore Iran's two-goal cushion 13minutes later.

Yuan scored his second goal in the closing stage but it was too late to change their fate.

Uruguay,

who went down 2-1to Iran,defeated 2in Friday's last game.

China

will play w:st="on">Uruguay in their final group game on Sunday.Iran,who already booked a quarterfinals berth with two straight victories,face Canada the same day.

In other matches on Friday,w:st="on">Mexico notched a 1-0victory over Ukraine,Thailand stunned w:st="on">Italy 1-0.

In women's action,DPR Korea secured their place in the last eight with a 6-0win over Germany.Mexico thrashed New Zealand 4-0,Chinese Taipei trounced Canada 4-1.

Chinese women cagers maintained their unbeaten run at the Universiade as they shook off Serbia and Montenegro 85-75on Friday.

China,with

national team center Chen Nan and Sui Feifei playing a pivotal role,top Group C with three wins and now have advanced to the quarterfinals.

Italy

upset the defending champions Americans 81-64,w:st="on">South Korea came from behind to tame Canada 83-79,Ireland thrashed South Africa 90-42and Russia delivered a Slovenia.

Defending champions Serbia and Montenegro opened the Universiade men's basketball tournament with a 92-62win over Mexico,Australia edged Germany 71-68,Sweden crushed Japan 92-67,Canada downed Bulgaria 87-77,Russia overcame South Korea 75-71,Turkey upstaged Kazakhstan 89-71and Estonia beat

South

Africa 59-39.

The Chinese men's volleyball team had a disappointing start at the Universiade,losing 25-21,25-13,25-13to Japan.

The US men's team,gold medalist at the last Universiade in 2001,had to battle for five sets before overcoming Canada 25-27,25-22,21-25,25-18,15-13.

Turkey outclassed Serbia and Montenegro 25-22,32-30,20-25,29-27;South Korea brushed aside the United Arab Emirates 25-15,25-16,25-17;Thailand upset Australia 22-25,26-24,25-19,25-18;The Netherlands overwhelmed Denmark 25-16,25-27,25-23,25-15;and Ukraine rallied to beat DPR Korea 19-25,28-26,25-14,25-21.

In women's event,South Korea crushed Hong Kong,China 25-9,25-13,25-13;Italy defeated Mexico 25-27,27-25,25-18,25-22;Russia notched a 25-10,25-10,25-12win over Algeria;Thailand downed Chinese Taipei 25-22,20-25,25-17,25-18.

Five gold medals are up for grabs in fencing and taekwondo on Saturday.