Jamal strikes gold

But the news of the day was dominated by a military strike by North Korea on a South Korean island which weighed on Korean athletes in Guangzhou.

On a day when China equalled their 2006 Asian Games record gold-medal tally, news of the worst military attack by North Korea on the South in decades rippled through Korean sports teams at the multi-sport event.

"No more bombing," urged Park Won-hah, a doctor for South Korean athletes inside Guangzhou's Aoti Main Stadium. "Most of the Korean athletes would be worried about this situation."

The Olympic Council of Asia, however, said that the attack, in which North Korea shelled a South Korean island, destroying buildings and killing two soldiers, had nothing to do with sport and they would not comment.

On the track Jamal had little trouble defending her 1,500m title at Guangzhou's Aoti Main Stadium, holding off Vietnamese silver medallist Thanh Hang Truong in a time of four minutes 8.22 seconds, more than 12 seconds outside her personal best.

Bahrain's Tareq Mubarak Taher, a Kenya-born athlete formerly known as Denis Kipkurui Keter, won gold in the men's 3000m steeplechase.

"Of course, I am from Africa and I represent Bahrain and I feel good also," 26-year-old Jamal said.

"The important (point) is the training. The main point is the training, that is why ... If you train hard you can do (well)."

African athletes also dominated the men's 5000m on Sunday, with Bahrain's Ali Hasan Mahboob, formerly Silas Kirui, taking gold ahead of two other Kenya-born runners representing Qatar.

Stiff competition for national team slots has prompted dozens of African athletes to defect to Gulf nations in search of money, better training facilities and opportunities to compete at major international events.

Kenya-born men's world champion Yusuf Saad Kamel was expected to be a strong medal chance in the 1,500m, but criticised Bahrain team officials after he crashed out in qualifying on Monday, saying they had forced him to run with a knee injury.

The delegation later issued a statement denying mistreatment and saying that Kamel had agreed to run in consultation with team officials.

In Kamel's absence, Mohammed Shaween of Saudi Arabia edged out Iran's Sajad Moradi for the title.

Chinese athletes took two of the other five track and field gold medals on offer, including the men's 20km race walk and the women's discus.

Jung Soonok of South Korea won the women's long jump gold and Yuki Nakata of Japan took the women's heptathlon.

Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim won the men's high jump.

On the rugby pitch, defending champions Japan romped home after staving off a gutsy challenge from Hong Kong to take the gold medal with a 28-21 victory, with Koji Wada running in eight tries over a blinding tournament.

Kazakhstan beat China 17-14 to win the women's gold.

"Yes, we will celebrate," said Svetlana Klyuchnikova. "We'll drink a big, big bottle of vodka. We brought it with us but the village security took it from us, so we will have to wait till the airport to drink it," added the Almaty RFC player.

For compatriot Galina Dolgushina, however, it was a tougher day. The Kazakh was knocked unconscious after falling from her horse during the equestrian leg of the modern pentathlon.

Her horse broke its neck and had to be put down. Dolgushina escaped serious injury but was taken to a local hospital.

In a colourful debut for roller sports at the Games, competitors zoomed around a track on roller blades in a dry-land version of speed skating on a smoggy, warm day.

"It's vivid and magical to see those racers in the flesh," said South Korean gold medallist An Yi-seul, who won the 300m time trial race just before the military strike on her country.

In football, Japan and the United Arab Emirates progressed to the final. A lovely solo goal from Kensuke Nagai settled Japan's match 2-1 against Iran, while the UAE snatched a dramatic win with the last kick of the game in a 120-minute semi-final.

At the end of the day, China's gold medal tally stood at 165, tying their record golden haul at the Doha games four years ago, with four more days of competition to go.