Gynastics

DOHA, Dec 4 (Reuters) World champion Yang Wei gave China an eighth successive men's all-around title at the Asian Games today when he defended the crown he won at Pusan in 2002.

Yang's victory gave him a sixth gold medal at the Asian Games and ninth medal overall.

The 26-year-old had three scores over 16.000, including the two highest in the competition with 16.600 on the vault and 16.550 on the rings, to give him a total of 95.500 to take gold by 2.100 from Hisashi Mizutori of Japan.

''I think it is relatively easy for me,'' Yang said. ''I feel very happy that I showed my ability as usual. I hope it (the Beijing Olympics) can be the same as today in the 15th Asian Games.'' His compatriot Chen Yibing had seemed on course to make it a 1-2 finish with the horizontal bars remaining, trailing Yang by 1.850. But a disappointing 14.800 on the apparatus allowed Chen to be overhauled by both Mizutori and bronze medallist Hiroyuki Tomita.

Tomita paid tribute to Yang.

''I totally lost against Yang Wei because his performance was perfection,'' he said. ''You consider me as Yang Wei's rival and yet he keeps on beating me.

''He can be very strong, makes very few mistakes and includes difficult skills in his performance. For that I respect him very much,'' he said.

China's 16 year-old He Ning grabbed her second gold of the Games to win the women's individual all-around artistic gymnastics title.

He, also a winner yesterday's team final, secured her crown with a top score of 15.200 in her final event, the floor exercise.

She also came first in the beam, second in the uneven bars, and third in the vault to finish on a final tally of 59.450 points, 0.400 ahead of compatriot and fellow team gold medallist Zhou Zhuora.

North Korea's Hong Su-jong edged out Japan's Miki Uemura for the bronze medal.

Reuters DH RS2341