Host China capped the climbing competition at the World Games on Saturday by sweeping the men's and women's speed relay finals, finishing the event with five of the six gold medals on offer.

The relay, a new format making its debut at a major international event, pairs two athletes on a team. The second climber starts only after the first hits the timing pad at the top, and the combined time determines the final result. The competition in Chengdu also produced the first men's and women's world records in the discipline.

The Chinese pairing of Chu Shouhong and Long Jianguo reached the final having overcome Samuel Watson and Zachary Hammer of America in the semifinal. Watson, still nursing a shoulder injury, delivered a clean run, but Hammer slipped, sending the Chinese duo to the final.

In the final Chu and Long – both fresh off individual golds – met another American pair, 18-year-old Michael Hom and 17-year-old Logan Schlecht. Both teams went error-free, but the Chinese pair prevailed in 10.26 seconds, each claiming a second gold medal of the Games.

"The atmosphere in our climbing community is really good," Long said. "My English isn't great, but every time I see Samuel and the others I would always say hello. I know Watson has been dealing with an injury, so we didn't get to see his peak form. I hope he can return to the top soon."

On the women's side, China's Deng Lijuan and Zhou Yafei dominated, breaking the world record three times in one day, lowering it to 13.28 seconds in the semifinals before defeating compatriots Qin Yumei and Zhang Shaoqin for gold. (Xinhua)