London, England: Judo is often a reliable conveyor belt of medals for Japan, the country where the popular martial art was founded, and it gave Japan its first gold medal of the London Olympic Games on Monday, day three of full competition.

After two days without a gold on the tatami of the ExCeL North Arena 2, Kaori Matsumoto, 24, finally put Japan in the gold column of the medals table by winning the women’s -57kg category.

Elsewhere, China added three more gold medals on day three thanks to Li Xueying (weightlifting, women’s 58kg), the men’s gymnastics team and the men’s 10m platform synchro divers Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan.

Li lifted an Olympic record total of 246kg, comprising an Olympic record 108kg in the snatch and a 138kg clean and jerk to beat her closest rival, Thailand’s Pimsiri Sirikaew, by 10kg. The silver medal was Thailand’s first medal of the Games.

DPR Korea’s third gold of the Games came from weightlifter Kim Un Guk, who broke the overall world record for the men's 62kg class with a combined score of 327kg. Indonesia's Irawan Eko Yuli took the bronze with 317kg.

Mongolia also joined the rankings on Monday with a bronze medal for the Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal in the men’s -73kg judo, as did India in shooting with a bronze for Gagan Narang in the men’s 10m air rifle.