China won its first gold medal of the Beijing Games, emerging victorious Saturday in short track speedskating’s mixed team relay in the event’s Olympic debut.

Wu Dajing edged Pietro Sighel of Italy by .016 seconds — or half a skate blade — to claim gold. Hungary earned bronze.

Qu Chunyu, Fan Kexin and Ren Ziwei joined Wu for the historic victory. The small number of Chinese fans at Capital Indoor Arena cheered and waved tiny flags.