Bagging 16 crowns on Friday, China broke a 20-year-old gold medals record of the quadrennial event, while Bangladesh also made history with a very first title in the debutant cricket.

Feng Lanlan's karate title at the women's 68kg pushed the hosts' total golds to 184, and veteran center Wang Zhizhi's heroic farewell show in the title defending final put a perfect end for China.

Stretching their gold haul to 197 on the 14th competition day, these Games' penultimate and most productive day, China re-emphasized their dominance in Asia with just five finals to be played on Saturday.

Their previous best was 183 gold medals at the Beijing Asian Games in 1990, an unmatchable mark in the Games' history since 1951.

Just two days ago, China have surpassed the previous record of 342 total medals that the hosts registered in Beijing 20 years ago.

Besides China's gold-snatching actions, Bangladesh also celebrated a historical win as their cricket team snuck past Afghanistan by five wickets for their first title in seven editions.

"We are celebrating, but I hope Afghanistan will celebrate too because they deserve the silver medal," said Bangladesh coach Imran Sarwar.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets for the bronze, while the competition, making its debut on the Asiad stage, had been diminished by the absence of regional powerhouse India.

In a Asiad basketball final confirmed the last for the former NBA player, Wang blocked a shot and scored on an offensive rebound in the waning time to help China defend their title 77-71 over South Korea.

Staying on the top podium, Wang was surprised when his 11 teammates took off their golds and put them all up Wang's neck before showing respect down at the floor and bowing to the 33-year-old.

"As a veteran to win this championship makes me very happy," said an elated Wang.

"Over the last year we have faced a lot of pressure and people said we were suffering and with no bright future, but we have worked hard and this is the result of our hard work," he added.

Also under pressure is China's young divers, but the updating squad beat back all doubts with a clean sweep of all 10 Asiad golds on Friday, continuing the country's winning-all streak in 36 years.

World No. 1 one He Zi capped a hugely successful season by winning her first Asiad title in the women's 3m springboard, and rising star Cao Yuan upstaged better-known teammate Huo Liang in the men's 10m platform

Other title showdowns saw Beijing Olympic gold-winning pitcher Yukiko Ueno threw a one-hitter to help Japan beat China 2-0 for its third straight softball title, but the hosts' women defeated Japan in the handball decider.

Another clean sweep happened in weiqi. South Korea added duo team win to the mixed doubles victory as both their men and women masters denied China's chances. And in chess, the hosts went one short from all wrap after taking both team golds.

Chinese boxing concluded on top of the medal tally for the first time with three more golds on Friday through defending champion Zou Shiming, women's boxers Dong Cheng and Li Jinzi.

On the final day of athletics, China won the men's 4X100m relay after 20 years but lost the women's to Thailand, while compatroit Li Yanxi leapt furthest to win the men's triple jump.

Bahrain's Ethiopian-born Mimi Gebregeiorges and Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa respectively took the women's 5,000m and the men's 10,000m titles, and Uzbekistan's Svetlana Radzivil claimed high jump honor.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2010)