Britain's cyclists started the Games with a hat-trick of golds, while Australia took away the other two contested in track cycling.

Simon Richardson, 41, broke the LC3/4 one-kilometer time-trial world record to win Britain's first gold medal, before tandem cyclist Aileen McGlynn and her pilot Ellen Hunter lowered the world record to retain the 1km time trial title in B4 category.

Kenny then made it a hat-trick of golds for Britain, successfully defending his CP3 individual pursuit title.

Meanwhile, Chris Scott, a four-time Paralympian, and Kieran Modra blitzed the field at Beijing's cycling track to secure Australia's first two gold medals of the Games.

Scott, who has cerebral palsy, said the victory was particularly sweet as Beijing will be his last Games.

"It's amazing - I told everyone that this was definitely my last individual pursuit, and they all said 'Well, you better make it a gold'," said the 40-year-old. "I'm the first gold medallist for Australia and that makes it even more special."

Slovakian shooter Veronika Vadovicova scooped up the first gold medal of the Games when she won the women's 10-meter air rifle standing SH1 final with 494.8 points. SH1 competition do not require a shooting stand.

Athletes will compete over 11 days in 20 sports in five different categories of disability, with a total of 472 gold medals awarded.

The Paralympics end on Sept. 17.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2008)