City targets two gold medals

By Yan Zhen  |   2008-7-2  |     ONLINE EDITION

SHANGHAI is aiming for at least two gold medals at the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The medals are likely to be won by two of four Shanghai athletes - the 110-meter world champion hurdler Liu Xiang, the table tennis player Wang Liqin and the divers Wu Minxia and Huo Liang.

Wang and Wu, who will take part in the 3-meter synchronized women's diving, are favored for medals.

But even if the two win, because they are both involved in team events, Shanghai will only be able to count it as one medal, officials said.

And it is uncertain how Liu, who just seen his world record broken by a Cuban athlete, and Huo, the 10-meter synchronized diver, can match their rapidly progressing rivals.

"Because competitive sport embraces so much uncertainly, it is going to be tough for Shanghai to meet its target of two gold medals," said Yu Chen, director of the Shanghai Sports Administration.

In 2004, Shanghai sent 38 athletes to the Olympic Games in Athens. The team returned with the equivalent of only one and a half gold medals and ranked tenth among the more than 30 municipalities, provinces and special administrative regions.