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In preparation for the Beijing Olympics which is only two years away, China as the host is fielding its biggest squad to the short-course World Swimming Championships.

There will be 43 Chinese swimmers competing in the pool, which is inside the Shanghai Qizhong Sporting Complex. Half of the squad is making their debut in international competitions.

"We are paying great attention to this event because it is an important prelude to the games," Li Hua, director of China's national swimming administrative centre, said yesterday.

"The squad we are sending is the same one we are preparing for the 2008 Games," Li said. "These swimmers are very likely to be the backbone of our 2008 team and we consider this event as a part of our preparations for the 2008 Games."

The team is missing its biggest star Luo Xuanjuan, the most celebrated swimmer in China's swimming history in recent years. The 22-year-old who almost single-handedly kept China on the world swimming map by winning five long-course world championship gold medals and one Olympic gold medal in 2004, decided to skip the event due to poor form, although she travelled with the squad to Shanghai.

It would more realistic to count on another veteran Qi Hui, who is outstanding at both breaststroke and the individual medley.

The former world record holder for the women's 200m breaststroke received gold in the 2002 championships in Moscow.

With the absence of Australia's sizzling Liesel Jones, it would be the best opportunity for Qi to repeat her Moscow winning feat.

But the swimmer from Fujian Province is placing more expectations on the medley events, as she has steadily shown improvement in these events.

"I think I will have a better chance in the medley events," said Qi. "If I am able to win the opening 400m medley, I think I am able to win at least two gold medals in the event."

However, it would be more entertaining to watch Wang Qun, a 13-year-old prodigy who established herself as a top swimmer by defeating Luo in the East Asian Games last year.

Wang is coached by Luo's longterm mentor Zhang Yadong, also the head coach of China's national team. She will try to continue the nation's great tradition in women's breaststroke in a talented pool which is also occupied by the US's Tara Kirk, bronze medallist from the 2005 Montreal world championships.

Apart from Wang, backstroker Gao Chang is also among a group of emerging swimming talent training hard for the Beijing Games.

The double silver medallist in Indianapolis in 2004 has a good chance to turn her two medals into gold and add another in the relay.

Wu Peng will head China's men's side which has been outshone by their women compatriots.

Winning 200m butterfly in World Cup meet in New York in February, Wu is aiming to become China's first men's gold medal in the event after winning a bronze in Indianapolis last year.

Brakstroker Ouyang Kunpeng and distance freestyle swimmer Zhang Lin are also seen as medal hopes.

"We are looking for a better result than last time and hoping for at least two gold medals," said Li. "But it is equally important to get experience for our young swimmers."

The four-day event has a record entry of more than 1,000 swimmers from 128 countries and regions. Although superstars like Jones, Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps and Aaron Peirsol are missing, the event has attracted a host of big names including world record holders Lisbeth Lenton of Australia and Thomas Rupprath of South Africa.

(China Daily April 5, 2006)