Both sides were making their debuts at these Games, having not appeared in Singapore 2010, but experience was not a problem as they found their best form when it mattered most with two superb performances.

After coming close to defeat in last night's semi-final, which they won 25-24 against eventual bronze medallists Sweden, South Korea came perilously close to defeat once again.

They trailed with just minutes to go before a late triple-strike secured a 32-31 win over Russia, the same country who lost in the inaugural Youth Olympic final four years ago in Singapore, in similarly agonising circumstances against Denmark.

For South Korea, meanwhile, it continued what has been called a "fairytale" summer for the Asian side, just seven weeks after their under-20 team won a first ever world junior title in Croatia, with Youjin Hur and Soyeong Yu forming part of both teams.

Slovenia overcame a stern challenge from Egypt to win boy's gold ©IHF



In front of an audience including International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and International Handball Federation chief Hassan Moustafa, Slovenia were marginally more comfortable as they ran out 31-25 winners over defending champions, Egypt, in the boy's final.

Blaz Janc and Gal Marguc were the individual stars for the Europeans, with each scoring eight goals from 12 attempts, while Norway edged Qatar in the bronze medal match.

There were some similarly tense duels on the penultimate evening of Nanjing 2014 athletics action, highlighted by the latest chapter in a compelling distance running rivalry between East African powerhouses Kenya and Ethiopia.

Rosefline Chepngetich enjoyed a superb victory for the former in the girl's 2,000 metres steeplechase, but Ethiopia claimed two titles, courtesy of Kokeb Tesfaye Alemu over 1500m and Wogene Sebisibe Sidamo in the 2,000m steeplechase.

It was also a good day for France as javelin thrower Lukas Moutarde and triple jumper Yanis Esmeralda David each scooped Gallic gold, but the most poignant moment came when Suriname's Miguel Van Assen won the boy's triple jump for the South American nation's first Youth Olympic medal.

Miguel Van Assen of Suriname earned a historic victory in the triple jump ©Nanjing 2014



Spain, South Africa, Belarus, China and the United States were the other nations to enjoy athletics victories.

There was Eastern European domination on Greco Roman finals day in wrestling as Russia scooped doubled gold and Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan took one each.

The other was won by Ri Seung of North Korea in the under 42 kilogram division.

There was the customary Chinese triumph in diving as Wu Shengping scored a total of 492.05 to add the 3m springboard title to her earlier 10m platform victory and, after three of five events, continue the host nation's bid for a clean sweep in the sport.

Elsewhere, Australia set up a men's hockey 5s final with Spain, while Denmark's John Paul Pultz, Pinnerup Axelsen and Emily Kristine Pedersen lead by two shots with one day to go in team golf action.

South Korea lie in second place, with Sweden third. 

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