The Albany Gazette - China swimmer in Asian Games first as North Korea lifters reign

China's Zhang, 19, scorched to the men's 400m freestyle title in Tokyo in a Games-record 3min 41.28sec.

He sat on the lane divider after the race and slowly counted off on his fingers all seven medals he had won.

Zhang also won individual golds in the 200m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle events, as well as three relays.

He said after wrapping up a scintillating campaign that it had been the "perfect week".

"I think the most important thing is to stay grounded and focused, because the Asian Games are not my ultimate goal," said Zhang, who stands 198cm (6ft 6in).

With the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away, China won 30 of the 42 golds in the pool this week.

Their 13-year-old phenomenon Yu Zidi was the undoubted superstar, taking home three individual golds and all in Games-record times.

Not be outdone, Japan's 17-year-old Shin Ohashi shattered the men's 200m breaststroke world record on Thursday.

Swimming, equestrian and diving are taking place in Tokyo, but the city of Nagoya and the wider Aichi prefecture are the main Games host.

- Towering teen goes home -

On the last evening of gymnastics, Carlos Yulo won the men's vault for his second gold of the Games.

The double Olympic champion won floor gold on Thursday to complete his collection of major titles.

"I can't believe it," the Filipino said.

"In this whole Asian Games I felt really stressed, but at the same time I enjoyed what I did today. I really did my part.

"Today was really a miracle for me."

There's little time to celebrate, however, with the world championships next month.

South Korea edged China 85-80 in the semi-finals of the women's basketball, and will face either the hosts or Taiwan for gold.

China had their giant centre Zhang Ziyu, 19, but it was not enough to deny the committed Koreans.

Zhang Ziyu stands 223cm (7ft 4in) and scored 22 points.

"She was tough to guard," said South Korea's Kang Lee-seul.

"We couldn't defend her, but we focused on fast breaks and shooting more three-pointers."

North Korea's women were again in record-setting form on the weightlifting dais, but a Chinese lifter ended their winning streak.

North Korea's Oh Kwang Ok set three world records on her way to women's 57kg bodyweight class gold.

Oh lifted 104kg in the snatch and 134kg in the clean and jerk for a 238kg total -- all world records to add to the two golds North Korea's women won in the 49kg and 53kg classes this week.

Three more world records were set in the women's 61kg later, but this time it was China's Yang Liuye who took the gold after a battle with North Korea's Pak Jin Hae.

Yang's snatch of 112kg was a new world record and Pak hit back with a world record of 139kg in the clean and jerk.

But even that was not enough as Yang matched her weight to win by 3kg with a total of 251kg, also a new world record.

North Korea have won four gold medals and two silvers in the six weightlifting events contested so far.

(B.Ramirez--TAG)