KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China have topped the final medal standings for a sixth straight time at the ninth Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC Games) which closed here on Friday.

    China garnered 199 gold, 72 silver and 36 bronze medals, a better result than that in Busan in 2002 when they won 191 gold medals.

    Thailand finished second, with a medal credit of 61-43-48, followed by South Korea (58-42-43). Hosts Malaysia (44-59-71) stood fourth, fulfilling its goal of ten gold medals.

    Iran (36-43-26), Japan (28-33-38), Hong Kong, China (25-30-23),Chinese Taipei (18-29-22), Australia (15-17-23) and Vietnam (9-27-31) took the fifth to tenth places on the tally.

    Out of the 47 participating countries and regions, 36 split a total of 541 gold medals from 19 sports, according to the organizers.

    The week-long Games witnessed a total of 27 new world records established in the athletics, powerlifting, archery and 17 of them went to China. Moreover, 66 Games records were rewritten.

    "China has updated its gold count compared with that in Busan but the important thing is we have made some breakthroughs and made headway in some team events." said Lv Shiming, deputy chef demission of the Chinese delegation.

    China snatched one gold medal each in sailing and wheelchair tennis in its participating history in the Games.

    "It's the first time for us to send sailing athletes to the FESPIC Games and we took a gold medal. As for wheelchair tennis, we never won gold medal before." he said," In goalball, China grabbed two gold medals."

    Phil Craven, president of International Paralympic Committee, gave thumbs to China's team events.

    "Four years ago, I watched a goalball match between China and South Korea. And now I noticed that China have made great progress." he said.

    Lv added that Chinese goalball team made its debut in the FESPIC Games in 1994 and it has been widely promoted in China as over 20 provincial teams were set up.

    "As for our performance here, I can say that we have full confidence in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. But we have to foster more young talents so as to get well prepared for 2008."

    The next FESPIC Games will be renamed as Asian Para Games and be held in Guangzhou, China in 2010.

    The week-long FESPIC Games concluded. In the closing ceremony, the new Asia Paralympic Committee flag came in and was handed over to host city Guangzhou.

    The best male and female athlete awards went to Guo Wei and Li Ling, both from China. Guo set three world records, one paralympic record and three FESPIC records, while Li refreshed one world record, one paralympic record and two FESPIC records.