China had a fantastic start in the five finals, winning women's and men's lightweight single sculls as well as women's single sculls, but lost the rest two in men's single sculls and men's four.

Newly-crowned world champion Xu Dongxiang from China won the women's lightweight single sculls final in four minutes and 10.28 seconds, closely followed by Lee Ka Man of Hong Kong, China in 4:12.90. The bronze medal went to Thailand's Nikree Phuttharaksa, who challenged Xu in the first half race but faded away in the last strokes, finishing in 4:18.96.

"I felt a great pressure before the event, but I get well prepared for it and observe the other competitors in the past races." said 23-year-old Xu.

"I think the reason why my teammates lost their races is that they don't treat their rivals seriously." she added.

China's Wu Chongkui, who lost to Japan's Daisaka Takeda in the heats and semifinals of men's lightweight single sculls, turned the tables in the final.

The 17-year-old Wu, who was newly crowned in the men's four in 2006 world champs, led the way to cross the finish line in 3:37.12,edging Takeda into second place in 3:44.76.

Ruthtanaphol Theppibal of Thailand secured a bronze medal in 3:47.48. Uzbekistan's Artyom Kudryashov finished a fourth place.

"I'm well prepared for a fourth place finish today, maybe this attitude is the key to win." said Wu.

On Takeda's performance, Wu said: "He is very strong. But today I don't know what happened to him, maybe not physically well."

Takeda tipped the race a "so bad" one and had a deep regret.

Jin Ziwei, top eight in the world, enjoyed a comfortable win and helped China defend the title in the women's single sculls.

Jin completed the race in 4:01.68, enjoying an eight-second advantage over second-placed Ai Fukuchi of Japan. Pere Karoba of Indonesia settled for a bronze medal in 4:27.76.

Then, China's winning streak was snapped.

Shin Eun Chul pulled off the first rowing gold medal for South Korea in Asian Games history in the men's single sculls final.

Withstanding a stiff competition, Shin laughed to the end, crossing the finish line in 3:38.04, followed by Mikhail Ganik of Kazakhstan in 3:39.43 and India's Bajranglal Takhar in 3:44.58.

Favorite Chen Zheng failed to safeguard China's complete domination in the event since it was included in the Asian Games, settling for a fourth place in 3:45.62.

Igor Grinko complained about the competition lanes: "Lane two is the worst while lane four is the best as the tide under lane two is rapid, and four champions have been churned out on lane four."

Japan garnered a gold medal in the men's four final.

Leading from the very beginning, Japan settled for a gold medal, the second rowing gold for Japan in Doha, in 3:04.48, more than four seconds faster than second placed India in 3:08.98.

Indonesia took a bronze medal in 3:09.83, edging China into fourth place in 3:09.98.

China won this event at the Asian Games in 1990,1994 and 2002, while India has twice won the bronze medal in this event at the 1990 and 2002 Asian Games. Indonesia succeeded in adding to their Asian Games rowing medal tally to one silver and three bronzes.