China again dominated Day 5 to extend its lead at the top of the medals table to 97 gold, ahead of South Korea on 29 and Japan on 17, with North Korea and Iran next best on five.But it was the 21-year-old Park's night, sprinting to victory in the 100 meters freestyle after taking gold in the 200m and 400m events.

For once, the evening session at the Aoti Aquatics Center saw the Chinese split top honors with other Asian competitors.

Park, the Olympic champion over 400m, clocked 48.70sec in beating China's Lu Zhiwu by 0.28sec, with Japan's Takuro Fujii taking the bronze medal in 49.37.The win was his fifth medal in Guangzhou after two bronze in the relays, four years on from his seven-medal haul at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

His teammate Jeong Da-rae also stunned the Chinese by winning the women's 200m breaststroke, while Japan's Ken Takakuwa romped to the men's 200m individual medley gold.China's Tang Yi resumed normal business for the hosts with her fourth gold of the Games in the women's 100m freestyle. It added to her three relay wins.

For Park, it was sweet vindication after a disappointing outing at the world championships in Rome last year, where he didn’t even qualify for the final in the 400 free. The 21-year-old will go for a fourth gold on Thursday in the 1,500 race.

Jubilant after his 400 win on Tuesday, Park added more swagger to his celebration a day later. He slapped his right hand on the surface of the water, then hoisted himself onto a lane divider and raised both arms urging the crowd to cheer.

Park, who qualified first for the final, said he was excited to prevail in an event he doesn’t typically excel in.

“I didn’t even think about getting a medal before the race. I just wanted to be in the final because the Chinese and Japanese competitors are very strong,” he said.
 

Earlier, Park also set an Asian record in his 200 win — a feat more impressive given the fact that the swimmers are competing without the high-tech suits that have been banned by the sport’s governing bodies starting this year. Park’s record is just one of three Asian records that have been broken in Guangzhou since the six-day competition started on Saturday.

Park’s compatriot Jeong broke down in tears after her narrow victory in the 200 breaststroke. She finished just 0.25 seconds ahead of China’s Sun Ye and 0.38 seconds before another Chinese, Ji Liping. The teenager stretched the South Korean flag behind her back after receiving her medal, then chewed it and winked as she posed for pictures.

“I kept finishing in fourth place in my other races (in Guangzhou). I had a lot of pressure and used that pressure as energy to motivate me during the race,” she said.

A delighted Jeong even confided a crush on a fellow Korean athlete, saying: “I want to tell the good news to a Korean boxing athlete that I like very much.” Takakuwa fell short of his Asian record of 1 minute and 57.24 seconds in the men’s 200 individual medley but still edged 16-year-old Chinese swimmer Wang Shun by 1.41 seconds.

“The whole Japanese team is not doing very well. I hope my gold medal can save face for the team,” he said, adding the race was a “must-win” given it was his strongest discipline.

The Chinese hosts, however, still held the advantage with three golds for the night, bringing their total at the pool to 22, compared to Japan’s six and South Korea’s four. The final six golds will be awarded on Thursday.

Tang Yi and Li Zhesi finished 1-2 in the women’s 100 freestyle, as did 16-year-old Li Xuanxu and 15-year-old Shao Yiwen in the women’s 800 freestyle. Backstroke specialist Zhao Jing, the 50-meter world champion, added the 100 title to her earlier Asian record-setting win in the 200.

China’s Ji wasn’t pleased about finishing third behind South Korea’s Jeong in the 200 breaststroke.

“It was an unexpected result but each swimmer has a chance,” she said.
 
Their victories came as Taiwan's Yang Shu-chun pleaded her innocence after being disqualified from the taekwondo for using extra sensors, a move that sparked claims of a conspiracy.Yang had an extra electonic sensor taped to each of her heels in an effort to score more points before her 49kg quarter-final against Vietnam's Vu Thi Hau.The 25-year-old, who was due to meet Olympic champion Wu Jingyu of China next, insisted it was "based on the rules".The island's cable television channels broadcast footage of a crying Yang while speculating over a conspiracy to kick out their fighter so that her Chinese rival may have a smoother path to gold.Taiwan's top sports body said it regretted the "unfair" judgment, but added their players would not boycott the Games in protest.The hosts, meanwhile, tasted more success with Guo Shuang making history by becoming the first female track cyclist to win three Asiad golds when she powered to the sprint title."It feels good and I was very excited, but it is only the Asian Games. I hope we can deliver at the 2012 London Olympics," Guo said.
 
On the last day of track cycling action, Malaysia also got amongst the medals with Azizulhasni Awang winning the men's Keirin ahead of Josiah Ng.Following two spectacular smashes in the women's points race on Tuesday, there was more drama when Iran's Mohammad Parash took a heavy fall after running into the prone Zhang Lei.Parash was sent flying head first over his handle bars at speed and had to be stretchered off in a neck brace.At the shooting ranges, North and South Korea shared four gold to prevent a Chinese domination while South Korea also spoiled the host's party in gymnastics.China claimed four of the five gym golds but Yang Hak-Seon upset the odds to take the men's vault title.Golf got underway with Filipino Miguel Luis Tabuena firing an opening round 68 to take a one-stroke lead.Not everyone mastered the course with Afghanistan's Ali Ahmad Fazel stumbling his way to an incredible 58-over-par 130.The only golf course in Afghanistan is a rock-strewn nine-hole affair in the capital Kabul.