The issue of religious freedom took centre stage at the Asian Games on Wednesday when Qatari women forfeited a basketball game after refusing to remove the Islamic head scarf, dealing another blow to an event that trumpets diversity and inclusiveness.
Organisers of Incheon's Asian Games, which have welcomed 9,500 athletes from 45 countries across the length and breadth of the world's most populous continent, said their hands were tied by International Basketball Federation (FIBA) regulations.
Qatari player Ahlam Salem M. Al-Mana said the team had decided to send a strong message to the governing body by refusing to take the court against Mongolia.
"We have to take this stand," she said. "We knew about the hijab ban, but we have to be here.
"We have to show everyone that we are ready to play, but the international ASSOCIATION is not ready."
The row overshadowed another lively day of action in Incheon, where China's gold rush hit full stride and South Korea tightened their grip on second place ahead of rivals Japan.
After five days of competition, China top the medal table on 59 golds, followed by the Koreans on 26 and Japan on 20.
China's dominance in the pool continued with four more titles, including a fourth gold for teenager Shen Duo, while Japan's Kosuke Hagino also won his fourth title of the Games.
The Japanese 20-year-old blew away his rivals on the final lap to win the men's 400 metres individual medley final -- the most gruelling event in the pool -- and show why he is one of the early favourites to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"My strategy was to bring the very best potential in me for the last 100m and it worked well," said Hagino, who broke the Asian Games record and has now won a total of six medals in Incheon and has one more event to go.
"The record is not bad either."
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