China and Japan ended six days of swimming action deadlocked with 16 gold each, but tragedy marred the Asian Games when a South Korean equestrian rider was crushed to death in a fall. 

Proceedings were blighted when Kim Hyung Chil died after his horse Bundaberg Black reared and fell as it attemped a fence during the individual cross country competition.

Kim, 47, an experienced rider, was thrown from the saddle and crushed by the horse which landed on his head.

"We have opened a formal inquiry into this tragic accident," said Chris Hodson, vice-president of the International Equestrian Federation.

"To my knowledge it is the first time this has happened at the Asian Games."

There was another scare when Chinese water polo player Han Zhidong collapsed poolside. He was rushed to hospital but his condition was not known.

In the pool, the wheels fell off the Chinese juggernaut when it produced its worst performance so far, which ending their regional dominance established when they finished with 20 golds to Japan's 11 at the last Asiad.

Japan picked up three men's golds on Thursday to China's woman's gold.

China started the day on the right foot, with Han Yucheng winning the men's 20 kilometre walk in appalling conditions with rain bucketing down.

Despite this, he crossed the finish line in 1hr 21mins 40sec, collecting the first athletics title of the Games ahead of Kim Hyun-Sub of South Korea and Japan's Koichiro Morioka.

His teammate Liu Hong won the women's race.

Han though was not happy despite his convincing victory.

"I am not satisfied with the result," said Han. "Before the Games I wanted to set a new Asian Games record but I didn't."

The rain created havoc, with the tennis team finals and soft tennis finals cancelled for the day.

（Agencies）