Muraoka wins gold, Morii grabs bronze on Day 1 of Beijing Paralympics

Momoka Muraoka reacts after winning gold in the women's downhill sitting race at the Beijing Winter Paralympics on Saturday. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

BEIJING -- Alpine skier Momoka Muraoka won gold in the sitting category of the women's downhill on Saturday, becoming the first Japanese medalist at the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games, which opened Friday.

Muraoka, who has five career medals including a gold in the giant slalom sitting category at the 2018 Pyeongchang Paralympics, clocked 1 minute 29.77 seconds in the downhill.