Yang Wei cruised to his fourth title in Doha on Wednesday to pile up eight Asian Games gold medals, which leveled the record of China's Gymnastics Prince Li Ning.

Yang took the fourth gold in the parallel bars with a score of 16.300, ending his Doha sweepstakes with brilliance.

Yang collected his first two Asiad gold medals in Bangkok 1998 on team and floor exercise. Four years later in Busan, South Korea, he took two more on team and all-around.

Now he can boast as the most prolific gymnast at the Asian Games with eight golds and 11 medals, matching his legendary predecessor Li Ning.

"I have three different feelings about the latest three Asian Games," Yang said. "The athletes village is just like a home away from home. We live in the same place in peace and harmony, but we have to fight each other when we meet on sporting arena."

"I still remember my Asian Games debut in 1998. That's the best time to remember for all life," said Yang. "You just feel everything is new and attractive to you at the first Games."

"The Busan Asiad for me was a chance to make progress and to grow up, and Doha 2006 is a time to reach the peak of my ability and form."

"You learn me only by the way of watching my competing with others on apparatus, so you get impressed with my outstanding performances and gold medals.

"But not many people really know the hardships and endless boring hours of training. Sometimes you just want to give up and you hate to enter the training hall to see the apparatus," Yang continued. "Fortunately I get used to that now and I even get addicted to that.

"I didn't realize I just reached Li Ning's record," said Yang. "We compete in different times and face different rivals. It's very hard to make a comparison."

Yang has been in impeccable form on the apparatus here. His show of fatigue in pommel horse final seemed to break his momentum on Tuesday, but minutes later he fought back to share the rings gold with teammate Chen Yibing.

Yang said Li Ning remains as his idol.

"Li Ning has been my idol since I stepped into gymnastics. I have won eight golds in the Asian Games, but I am far behind him in international events," Yang said.

As a gymnast for 17 years, Li Ning has collected eight golds and 11 medals at the Asian Games. He retired after the 1988 Olympics.

Li Ning still keeps the Chinese record of 14 world and Olympic gymnastics titles, with the closest challenger Li Xiaopeng short of two.

After his retirement from gymnastics, Li Ning built a sports wear and gear company named after him, which is currently the top brand in the Chinese industry of footwear and sporting apparel.

Source: Xinhua