In the men's event China pulled ahead in the latter stages thanks largely to ten points from the clinical Zhennian Zuo to eventually triumph 21-14 and defend the title they won in Singapore four years ago when the sport had been trialled for the first time before really bursting onto the scene at the following year's Summer Youth Olympics Games.

The women's event ended slighter closer although - as the men's match had been 15-14 at one point - it was actually more comfortable early on as China moved into an 8-0 lead and always kept their opponents at arm's length as they emerged 16-10 winners.

In both events the Taiwanese proved tricky opponents but China were ultimately too strong in defence and too clinical with the basket at their mercy as they proved, as in yesterday's badminton, that their mental and physical resilience under pressure is second to none.

China excelled from the free-throw line as well as from open play in the men's basketball final against Chinese Taipei


There were similar levels of success on the final night of athletics action as the host nation won six more titles across events as diverse as the men's 3,000 metres thanks to Hongliang Lu, the women's shot put through Yu Dong and the women's 200m with Guifen Huang triumphing.

Japan also won double gold in the men's high jump and women's 3,000m while Chinese Taipei atoned for their basketball disappointment with victory in the men's 200m from Chun Han-Yang.

It was also the final of two days of taekwondo action and it was Philippines and South Korea who took the 'respective women and men's spoils.

With a shriek every time she launched an attack which would have outdone even those of many female tennis players, Paulinelouise Lopez took the women's under 55 kilogram title after defeating Fariza Aldangorova of Kazakhstan 4-2 in the final.

There was no decibel level reader at the Longjiang Gymnasium but there was an impressive "hawk-eye" style challenging system which was put to good effect in the men's under 62kg event as Gangmin Cho outlasted Iranian opponent Abolfazl Yaghoubijoubari 5-4 in overtime after the bout had initially ended tied at four apiece.

South Korean and Iranian taekwondo finalists size each other up midway through their under 62kg showdown


South Korea unsurprisingly enjoyed more success in the pool with a mammoth four second victory in the 4 x 100m medley relay, along with three other titles, although it was Darren Fang Yue Lim of Singapore who took the showpiece 50m freestyle event.

Swimming concludes on the final day of action tomorrow evening here when squash, tennis, handball and football finals will also take place.

In tennis the men's singles final will consist of players from the Philippines and Vietnam while the women's final will be an all Chinese affair.