A CLEAN sweep of table tennis golds helped China top the medal tally on the final day of competition at the Asian Youth Games.

China's three golds at the Toa Payoh Stadium yesterday, combined with Saturday's mixed team title and one from windsurfing, saw them finishing the seven-day Games with a total of 25 golds, 16 silvers and 11 bronzes.

South Korea, who could add only a couple of golds in football and bowling, finished second on 20-17-17.

Thailand (11-7-2) were third while Singapore (9-6-15) ended fourth.

The hosts closed in style, recording their best gold-medal haul of the Games with one in bowling (Basil Low, boys' Masters) and two from swimming (girls' 100m freestyle and 4x100m free relay).

There was added joy in the Singapore camp as swimmer Quah Ting Wen ended the Games as one of only two athletes to have won four golds.

The 17-year-old Raffles Institution (Junior College) student struck gold in the girls' 50m, 100m, 200m free and the 4x100m free relay, registering national marks in her final three events.

Said Ting Wen: 'This meet has totally exceeded my expectations. Coming into this competition I never expected so many medals, and the national records as well.'

Sharing the limelight was South Korean swimmer Chang Gyu Cheol.

The 17-year-old was the boys' undisputed butterfly champion, completing a hat-trick of titles by capturing the 50m, 100m and 200m golds.

He also helped South Korea to the 4x100m medley relay title.

'I didn't know I had the most gold medals,' Gyu Cheol told The Straits Times. 'Actually, when I first came here for the AYG, I was very nervous.

'This is the biggest event for me so far, so I was just thinking that I couldn't afford any mistakes.'

Singapore chef de mission Lee Wung Yew said the performance of Team Singapore surpassed his expectations.

A target of one gold, and five medals in total, had been set before the Games.

Said Lee: ' I'm actually pretty awed by the way they conducted themselves in and out of the arena.

'Of course there was the occasional motivation here and there. But, other than that, these kids they were here to win, and the results showed that.'