The Chinese defended their overall title with 17 golds, 12 silvers and three bronze medals, while Japan and Qatar finished behind in that order. India bagged seven silvers and four bronzes.

A gold medal came as close as 0.73 seconds in the men's 10km walk, but a gritty Chinese held on, and Indian Gurdev Singh ended with silver. Seventeen-year-old Wang Shigang won the gold.

In the men's 10,000m, N Gojen Singh gave India silver. Gojen, who came sixth in the 5,000m, finished behind Makhid al Otabi.

Geeta Manral gave India its third silver from the women's 1,500m. She clocked 4:25.25s as Kazhak girl Irena Bodkoryova came first in 4:22.61.

India's 4x100m relay team looked set for a gold as Vinita Tripathi received the baton first but China's Qin Wangping ran abrilliant anchor leg. She made up almost eight metres and won gold for China in 46.05s. India (Mandeep Kaur, Kalpana Reddy, S Geetha and Tripathi) was second in 46.22s and Japan third in 46.46s.

In the 4x400m relay, India had a chance for gold but poor exchanges cost them dear. R Sukumari, S Geetha, Tripathi and Sangha Mitra were the quartet. China won the gold in 3:39.50s while India was second in 3:41.62s and Japan third in 3:42.55s.

Kuldeep Singh Mann took third place in men's shot put with a best of 16.88m with Gholoum Ahmed of Kuwait coming first with 17.87m and Wei Cong of China second with 17.58m.

Vinita Tripathi with three silver (200m and two relays) and S Geetha with one bronze and two silver (400m and the two relays) were the most successful.

Results

Men: 1,500m: Abu Bakar Kamal (Qat) 3:42.46, Dou Zhaobo (Chn), Zhao Yunhai (Chn); 10,000m: Makhld al Otaibi (Ksa) 30:11.05, N Gojen Singh (Ind) 30:30.91, Kazushi Hara (Jpn); 110 hurdles: Katsuya Hagino (Jpn) 14.42,Rohollah Asjarig (Irn), Chia Lin Yang (Tai); 4x100m: Japan 39.86, Saudi Arabia, Thailand; 4x400m: Japan 3:07.38, Saudia Arabia, Qatar; 10,000m walk: Wang Shigang (Chn) 44:55.00, Gurdev Singh (Ind), Eiichi Yoshizawa (Jpn); High jump: Naoyuki Daigo (Jpn) 2.21m, Cui Kai (Chn), Akio Fujiki (Jpn); Triple jump: Mohammed Abdel Aziz (Qat) 16.21m, Wei Shen (Chn), Ibrahim Mahamadin (Qat); Shot put: Ahmed Gholoum (Kuw) 17.87m, Wei Shen (Chn), Ibrahim Mahamadin (Qat); Shot put: Ahmed Musa (Qat) 7,387 points, Cao Wen (Chn), Kuldip Maan (Ind); Decathlon: Ahmed Musa (Qat) 7,387 points, Cao Wen (Chn), Mohammed Malek Tobias (Mas) 6,868.

Women: 1,500m: Irina Podkoryktova (Kzk) 4:22.61, Geeta Manral (Ind) 4:25.25, Yan Jun Li (Chn); 4x100m: China 3.39.50, India, Japan; 10,000m walk: Li Yu Rui (Chn) 51:20.39, Mayumi Kawasaki (Jpn), Ha Ming Ming (Chn).