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DOHA, Dec 7 - Death cast its long, dark shadow over the Asian Games on Thursday when a fatal fall in the equestrian event shook the Games community.

Kim Hyung-chil of South Korea, on Bundaberg Black, jumps during the Equestrian Cross Country event at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 7, 2006. Kim was killed after falling off the horse. [Reuters]

Stunned athletes at the Qatari sporting spectacle were left silenced by sorrow after South Korea's Kim Hyung-chil died after being crushed by his horse in a heavy fall at the Doha Racing and Equestrian Club.

It was the first death of an athlete in competition in the Games' 55-year history and caused the familiar refrain of the dominant Chinese national anthem to be pierced by a minute's silence.

It was left to an ashen-faced South Korean chef-de-mission Chung Hyun-sook to try and put into words her team's grief.

"I am in charge of making sure all athletes make it home safely," she said haltingly. "My heart is broken."

In pouring rain, Kim fell from his trusted mount Bundaberg Black -- the horse on which he won silver at the Pusan Games in 2002 -- at fence No.8 in the individual cross country event.

The 47-year-old was pronounced dead at hospital.

The event was initially suspended but resumed after weather improved in the afternoon.

A solemn atmosphere prevailed at venues across the Qatari capital as news of Kim's death reached other athletes and China's march to a record haul of medals took a back seat in people's minds.

"NUMB INSIDE"

"I feel empty, numb inside. Really shocking," Park Seung-chil, South Korean snooker and English billiards player said when Reuters broke the news to him.

"After my game I'll have to go back to the atheletes' village to see what happened."

As the South Korean team searched for answers, sport continued.

By the end of day six of competition China had amassed 89 gold medals -- exactly half the 178 on offer so far. The next best nation was Japan lagging way behind with 26.

Japan scored a minor victory over China in the pool, however, as the swimming competition reached its climax.

Sounding a warning to China ahead of the Beijing Olympics, Japan matched the swimming giants' gold medal tally, while a South Korean teenager became the fastest Asian ever over 1,500m.

While 17-year-old Korean Park Tae-hwan celebrated his third gold of the Games after breaking the 15-minute barrier in the 1,500m freestyle, Japan clinched three golds to under-pressure China's one, leaving them tied at 16 titles apiece.

China took home 21 swimming golds to Japan's 10 at the last Asian Games in Pusan.

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