A FAMILIAR script unfolded when China met North Korea in the table tennis mixed team final yesterday - the Chinese won convincingly again.

Chen Meng put the favourites in front at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall with a 11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 11-4 win over Kim Song I.

And Cheng Jingqi ended the proceedings by defeating Kim Jin Su 12-10, 11-2, 11-6.

Singapore and Chinese Taipei took the bronze.

With one gold in the bag, Chen Meng revealed his team's confidence of completing a four-gold sweep at the inaugural Asian Youth Games.

For China, dominating the sport at both youth and senior levels has become a habit.

In the Beijing Olympics last year, they monopolised the top three positions in the men and women's singles, and won both team titles.

Jingqi said: 'Teams fear us. Some are beaten even before the match starts.'

It is not hard to see why: Since 1975, China have bagged 28 out of 34 men and women's world team championship titles.

But Japan's 14-year-old Koki Niwa is hoping to shift the balance of power.

Read the full report in The Sunday Times.