Asia gears up for successful Games
Friday, 8 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug 7 (AFP): Asian nations are planning to bag a hatful of medals at the Olympics, but regional powerhouse China is set to overshadow their achievements.
The world's largest and most populous continent, home to over four billion people, or 60 per cent of humans on earth, had a solid showing in Athens and will want to better their medal haul on home turf. At the 2004 Games, 15 Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) nations fought their way onto the medal table.
A rampant China had its best-ever performance, finishing second overall to the United States with 32 gold, while Japan with 16 gold came fifth. South Korea's nine gold earned them ninth place.
While the three Asian heavyweights should again take the bulk of the glory, smaller fry like Thailand, Taiwan, and Hong Kong put athletes on the podium in 2004 and will be looking to improve in Beijing.
Mongolia, Iran, Indonesia, North Korea, Uzbekistan, UAE, Kazakhstan, Syria, and India have also tasted limited Olympic success.
Malaysia is confident of breaking its terrible Olympic record of never winning a gold medal with world number two badminton player Lee Chong Wei a hot tip for singles glory.
"Lee Chong Wei has defeated World No.1 Lin Dan several times and he can do it again provided he's focused throughout," Malaysian Sports Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told his domestic press.
"Most of our shuttlers have beaten China's players before and I see no reason for them not doing it again." Lee though has a tough first round opponent in Singapore's Ronald Susilo.
Thailand have sent 51 athletes to Beijing with their boxers, female weightlifters, taekwondo exponents, and badminton players all potential medal winners.
Its boxing team is particularly strong, led by defending light-welterweight champion Manus Boonjumnong, flyweight Somjit Jongjorhor, and bantamweight Worapoj Petchkoom.
"In previous editions, we rested our hopes on one or two boxers to take the medal," said Taweep Jantararoj, president of Amatuer Boxing Association of Thailand. "For this Olympics, everyone has a chance."
Taiwan are a power in taekwondo, while badminton and table tennis are Asian domains. It will be the rest of the world trying to muscle into these sports rather than the other way round in Beijing.
Defending badminton champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia will again be in contention against Malaysia's Lee and China's Lin Dan, while Lin's girlfriend Xie Xingfang is the player to beat in the women's event.
Paddlers from Hong Kong and Singapore will be snapping at China's heels in the table tennis, where Wang Hao and Zhang Yining are the best players currently on the planet
The world's largest and most populous continent, home to over four billion people, or 60 per cent of humans on earth, had a solid showing in Athens and will want to better their medal haul on home turf. At the 2004 Games, 15 Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) nations fought their way onto the medal table.
A rampant China had its best-ever performance, finishing second overall to the United States with 32 gold, while Japan with 16 gold came fifth. South Korea's nine gold earned them ninth place.
While the three Asian heavyweights should again take the bulk of the glory, smaller fry like Thailand, Taiwan, and Hong Kong put athletes on the podium in 2004 and will be looking to improve in Beijing.
Mongolia, Iran, Indonesia, North Korea, Uzbekistan, UAE, Kazakhstan, Syria, and India have also tasted limited Olympic success.
Malaysia is confident of breaking its terrible Olympic record of never winning a gold medal with world number two badminton player Lee Chong Wei a hot tip for singles glory.
"Lee Chong Wei has defeated World No.1 Lin Dan several times and he can do it again provided he's focused throughout," Malaysian Sports Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told his domestic press.
"Most of our shuttlers have beaten China's players before and I see no reason for them not doing it again." Lee though has a tough first round opponent in Singapore's Ronald Susilo.
Thailand have sent 51 athletes to Beijing with their boxers, female weightlifters, taekwondo exponents, and badminton players all potential medal winners.
Its boxing team is particularly strong, led by defending light-welterweight champion Manus Boonjumnong, flyweight Somjit Jongjorhor, and bantamweight Worapoj Petchkoom.
"In previous editions, we rested our hopes on one or two boxers to take the medal," said Taweep Jantararoj, president of Amatuer Boxing Association of Thailand. "For this Olympics, everyone has a chance."
Taiwan are a power in taekwondo, while badminton and table tennis are Asian domains. It will be the rest of the world trying to muscle into these sports rather than the other way round in Beijing.
Defending badminton champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia will again be in contention against Malaysia's Lee and China's Lin Dan, while Lin's girlfriend Xie Xingfang is the player to beat in the women's event.
Paddlers from Hong Kong and Singapore will be snapping at China's heels in the table tennis, where Wang Hao and Zhang Yining are the best players currently on the planet