Defending champions China showed their prowess on home turf to claim their fourth straight crowns at the 7th Asian women's softball championship, which was concluded in Seoul on Saturday.

The 1996 Atlanta Olympics runners-up topped on the final standings with perfect record though the final between the hosts and Japan was canceled because of rain, with Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea finishing the second and third after Saturday's play-offs.

After sweeping Japan 7-1 in a preliminary contest Friday, top qualifier China edged Japan 2-1 at the page-system play-offs Saturday morning to ensure their triumph at this Asian meet.

Japan claimed the final berth after scoring a 2-0 win over the DPR Korea, winners of the other play-offs game between the third and fourth finishers from the preliminary round, but the rain forced Japan to give up the chance to challenge the dominate Chinese again.

"It is great to win for the fourth time in a roll. But I am disappointed that our young players missed the chance to play against our top rivals in the continent," said Chinese head coach Liu Yaming.

Veteran short stop Wei Qiang opened the game with a home run to put China at 1-0 and outfielder Mu Xia lifted it to 2-0 on Tan Hua's two-base hit in the first inning.

China's error on catching in the third inning allowed Sato Rie to earn the only point for Japan. China only consented two goals in the championships, all to Japan.

The DPR Korea, placed fourth in the preliminary round, upset South Korea 2-0 in the play-offs, while South Korea had to settle for the fourth place.

The all-star team was named after the six-day competitions according to technical statistics with four Chinese players, two Japanese and one player each from DPR Korea, South Korea and Chinese Taipei on the list.

China's Zhang Yanqing was also voted the best pitcher while her teammate Deng Xiaoling won the home-run hitter and Hirashita Mayumi from Japan was the best leading hitter.

The quadrennial Asian event, which drew teams from 10 countries and regions, was the first of the kind held in China. (Xinhua)