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hina continued to consolidate its lead at the Asian Games medal table, while Indonesia could only add a bronze to its meager medal tally after the fourth day of competition in Incheon, South Korea, on Tuesday.

While Indonesia still searched for its first gold of the games, the gold medals kept coming for reigning champion China, led by commanding performances from their swimmers at Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center.

China won six of seven gold medals on offer, with Kazakhstan the only team to deny the Chinese a clean sweep. They added more medals in gymnastics, wushu and weightlifting.

As of 8:45 p.m., China topped the provisional standings with 40 gold, 21 silver and 20 bronze medals. South Korea was in a distant second with 18 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze medals. Japan was hot on the heels of the host with 16 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze medals.

One of the host'€™s gold medals was won in the Dream Park Equestrian Venue, where Indonesian Larasati Gading had to settle for bronze in the dressage individual intermediate freestyle.

Larasati, who rode Wallenstein 145, scored 74.075, but the top two positions belonged to Koreans, with Kim Dong-Seon beating teammate Hwang Young-shik, 77.225 against 76.575.

In weightlifting, Indonesian lifters failed to make it to the podiums. In the women'€™s 63 kilograms (kg), Sinta Darmariani languished in sixth while in the men'€™s 77 kg, Triyatno finished last.

The Indonesian fencing team exited early, losing to Kazakhstan 45-31 at Goyang Gymnasium.

Indonesia'€™s collection of bronze medals sees it lagging behind even regional rivals.

Malaysia won another gold medal, thanks to its women'€™s squash athletes who made it an all-Malaysia final at the Yeorumul Squash Courts. Thailand leapfrogged Indonesia in the medal tally after winning the men'€™s singles in bowling.

As many as 38 gold medals are at stake on the fifth day of competition on Wednesday.

Indonesia will be vying for two of seven gold medals in rowing after the competition completed its preliminary phase.

Chelsea Corputty and Wu Ode Fitri Rahmanjani will compete in the women'€™s pairs while Syiva Lisdiana, Yuniarty, Yayah Rokayah and Maryam Makdalena Daimoi will go all out in the lightweight women'€™s quadruple sculls.

In beach volleyball, Ade Candra Rachmawan and Koko Prasetyo Darkuncoro preserved Indonesia'€™s gold hopes by winning their third match to top their group with the prospect of facing lesser opponents drawn from the list of runner-ups.

Meanwhile, in Seoul, the Indonesian taekwondo team received a boost from Korean companies, which have been operating in Indonesia. They have provided the athletes with scholarships as well as support during the competition, which will start on Sept. 30.

'€œHopefully this will boost their fighting morale and motivate them to meet the medal target,'€ Ade Lukman, deputy chief of mission of the Indonesian delegation, told The Jakarta Post.

The gathering was attended by all six athletes, who have been undergoing training in Korea for the last three months. Only four of them will compete in the games.

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