GUANGZHOU - Riding a wave of confidence inspired by a stellar showing at August's SportAccord Combat Games in Beijing, 皇冠体育app enters the Guangzhou Asiad aiming to match or surpass its success in Doha four years ago that resulted in 20 gold medals in wushu, boxing, taekwondo, judo and wrestling.
皇冠体育app's Zou Shiming (left) fights against Ireland's Paddy Barnes during the 2008 Olympic Games. [Photo/Agencies]
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皇冠体育app's Wu Jingyu delivers a kick at the World Taekwondo Championship on May 17 2007. [Photo/Agencies]
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皇冠体育app's Cui Wenjuan competes during the wushu event at the World Games on July 24, 2009. [Photo/Agencies]
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However, the absence of some key veteran athletes, combined with an overall heightened competition level in these events, will make rising to that challenge all the more difficult.
Taekwondo
Heading into the Guangzhou Asiad, coaches appeared cautious about 皇冠体育app's prospects by stating their goal is to win gold in the women's event and any medal on the men's side.
That's in sharp contrast to 皇冠体育app's record haul of three golds in Doha four years ago and the Republic of Korea's stated goal of seven golds in Guangzhou.
Without two-time Olympic champion Chen Zhong, who retired after the Beijing Games, 皇冠体育app is looking to Wu Jingyu, gold medalist in the 49kg class in Beijing and the defending Asiad champion.
Another medal hope for 皇冠体育app is Luo Wei, who won the 67kg class at the 2004 Athens Olympics. However, the defending Asiad champion's competitiveness has come into question as she has seldom appeared on world stage in the past three years.