Asian Games Teams

Top-flight stars abound all over the region

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-11 09:21

Jordan

Joining the Asian Games in 1984, Jordan claimed its first gold medal at the 2006 Doha Games. Mohammad al Bakhit made history by winning gold in the men's 54kg taekwondo category.

Jordan's basketball team is regarded as the host country's main rival in the group stage by Bob Donewald, head coach of the China men's side. By importing American players, Jordan took third place at the 2009 Tianjin Asian Championship, which enabled it to enter the World Championship in Turkey for the first time.

Lebanon

Basketball contender Lebanon has surprisingly withdrawn from the Guangzhou Asian Games, which is not the first time the country has shunned the event. In 2002, the team failed to travel to the Busan Asian Games after the World Championship. Lebanon has played at six Asian Championships and been runner-up three times - in 2001, 2005 and 2007.

Despite the basketball setback, Lebanon has legitimate medal hopes in wrestling, weightlifting and judo. Among the 13 events it will take part in at the games, football is only team sport.

Lebanon won one gold medal and two bronze at the Doha Asiad.

The Philippines

The Philippines are confident of a good showing at the 16th Asian Games. About 230 athletes will take part in the event. With only 50 players at the 2006 Doha Asian Games due to a fiscal shortage, the Philippines placed 18th with four gold medals.

Boxing, billiards and chess were the Philippines' gold-medal winning events. Filipino pool legend, 56-year-old Efren "Bata" Reyes, will head the country's lineup. Two-time world champion Reyes is considered one of the all-time greats in the games of nine-ball, eight-ball and one-pocket. Reyes has also been named as player-coach of the national team.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) lost its chance to compete in women's gymnastics before the opening of the Asian Games. Its team was suspended by the International Gymnastics Federation and deprived of the chance to compete in Guangzhou because Hong Sujong, the 2006 Doha Asian Games silver medalist in vaulting, was found to have lied about her age.

With that blow, the DPRK now has to stake its hopes on soccer, weightlifting and shooting. It won six gold medals, nine silver and 16 bronze in Doha, 2006.

Syria Arab Republic

Syria, officially known as the Syria Arab Republic, is traditionally strong in boxing, weightlifting and basketball.

It claimed two gold medals, one silver and three bronze at the 2006 Doha Games. The golds medals were won in the men's 50m freestyle and the men's 105kg weightlifting section. Its basketball team failed to advance from the group stage in Doha.

The country's boxers dominated the Arab Military Sports Games this year and the Syrian Boxing Federation is confident of claiming at least two medals in Guangzhou.

Thailand

Thailand is determined to snare at least 13 gold medals in Guangzhou. The leading country in Southeast Asia ranked fifth with 13 gold medals, 15 silver and 26 bronze at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, and is typically strong in weightlifting, swimming, taekwondo and boxing.

Thailand is also strong in men's tennis, winning gold in the men's singles, silver in the men's doubles and bronze in men's team event in Doha. However, Thailand's top player, defending champion Danai Udomchoke, has been battling injuries and is unlikely to live up to his 2006 performances.

Women's tennis player Tamarine Tanasugarn is returning to peak form. The 33-year-old veteran defeated Kimiko Date Krumm from Japan and lifted the trophy at Osaka Open in October. The two-time silver medalist in 1998 and 2002 hopes to finally claim the title in Guangzhou.