Asia's athletes put on world-class performances and China stepped towards the 2016 Olympics but controversy was never far away at an engrossing Asian Games.

Between the "Gangnam Style" opening ceremony and Saturday's spectacular close, 17 world records fell and dozens of potential Olympic champions were unearthed.

Asia's Olympic chief on Saturday urged all sports to let women wear the Islamic hijab headscarf, after an Asian Games row which saw Qatar's basketball team quit in fury.

Qatar's women forfeited their matches and left after being told the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) would not allow hijabs.

Leonardo Bonucci has blamed Italy's Brazil 2014 disaster on over-confidence and a "holiday-like" atmosphere at their training base which left the players feeling detached from the whole World Cup experience.

For the second successive edition, four-time champions Italy crashed out of the first round of the World Cup following a final group defeat to Uruguay.

World number one Novak Djokovic continued his brilliant 100 percent record at the China Open on Saturday, overpowering Andy Murray in straight sets to make his way into the final.

It was another ruthless serving display from the top seed in Beijing, who overcame a brief fightback from the 27-year-old Scot midway through the second set to claim a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Host South Korea upset continental champions Iran 79-77 after a frenetic final two minutes to win Asian Games gold in the men's basketball on Friday.

The Koreans kept their nerve after slipping five points behind with 2:02 remaining to capture their fourth title -- and first since stunning Yao Ming's China at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.

Arsenal expect to be without injured midfielder Aaron Ramsey for around four weeks, manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Friday.

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has called for the champions to underline their status in Italy's Serie A after a European slip-up in midweek that has injected extra belief into Roma ahead of the sides' Serie A showdown on Sunday.

Roma were humbled 3-0 in the corresponding fixture last season but travel to Turin buoyed by a fine overall performance that earned them a creditable 1-1 draw at Manchester City in midweek.

Valencia's fine early season form will be put to the test when they host champions Atletico Madrid in the game of the La Liga weekend on Saturday.

Los Che sit just two points adrift of leaders Barcelona in second after an unbeaten start to life under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo after six games.

Cesc Fabregas will look to make Arsenal pay for their failure to re-sign him when he faces his old club in their match against Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Once the jewel in the crown of Arsene Wenger's squad, Spain midfielder Fabregas left the north London side to join boyhood club Barcelona in 2011.

Iran captain Salimeh Abdollahbakhsh visited the hospital on the eve of the kabaddi final at the Asian Games. She had fever and felt dreadful. She had no intention of missing the kabaddi title match, though, knowing her skills could tilt the match in favor of her team and against India, the creator and dominant nation in the sport.

So she lined up along with her teammates — all in their hijabs — as they prepared to give India a run for its money in a combative sport that combines tag with wrestling.