Taiwan athletes are currently busy readying themselves for the Beijing Olympic Games, scheduled to open in 13 days. Most have gathered in the island's southern city of Kaohsiung for "last-step" training.

The taekwondo team of the Chinese Taipei Olympic delegation is considered the one with the greatest possibility to "medal," as they say in the sporting world.

"In the last step, we will pay much attention to psychological training on athletes in a bid to prepare them for heavy pressure during the contest," said team coach Ho Wei-hsing.

The team has four athletes, including Chu Mu-yen, the 2004 Athens Olympics gold medal winner.

"Not every athlete has the luck to take part in the Olympics," Chu said. "Since the chance comes, we should spare no efforts and not let it go with regret."

Unlike other teammates who will be accompanied by their families, Su Li-wen, who won a gold medal at the Doha Asian Games in 2006, also in taekwondo, will not have her father with her in the Chinese capital. He was diagnosed nasopharyngeal cancer five months ago.

"First I was very sad but my dad was much more brave and optimistic than me. He has kept encouraging me," she said. "We made promises to each other. I will fight for the gold and he will fight for recovering from the cancer."

Among the Taiwan delegation, which includes 80 athletes in 15 sports, there are other veterans who are likely taking part in the Olympics for the last time, as well as first-time participants.

Weightlifter Wang Shin-yuan competed in the last three Olympic Games. In Athens, he experienced a major setback when he stumbled during his routine. He later thought of retiring from his beloved sport.

With the help of his wife, however, the 32-year-old gradually recovered from his depression and returned to training. This time around he has not set a target for himself.

"This doesn't mean that I don't work hard. I just want to perform as well as I normally do," he said. "The Beijing Olympics may be my last battle. I would like to stand up where I fell."

As an Olympic rookie, Huang Yi-ling, the only Taiwan athlete competing in the shooting events, felt relaxed and ready to enjoy her first Games.

"Last year, I was pressed hard to win a place in the Olympic delegation, but now I am relaxed. I just want to enjoy the rare opportunity," said the 23-year-old, a student of the Central Police University in Taiwan.

"I need to compete with myself instead of any rival," she added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2008)