With the last five golds to be decided on Saturday, including two favorite winning events, China is set to dominate the pool, in which it expected to have nine to 11 titles before the competition kicked off on September 29.

"Our swimmers have tried their best. Most of the youngsters have improved personal-bests. But I don't think the Asiad battle for golds between Japan and China manifested the true picture," Zhao Ge, Chinese national head coach said.

Japan, who earlier set a target to beat China and to win more than 16 gold medals, a half of the total golds on offer but fall behind from the second day 6-4, needs to sweep all the five titles tomorrow to make a 16-16 tie.

"Japan is very strong. This is not flattering but the fact. They have experienced a packed season but still have shown very impressive performance here in Busan while we prepared for the Asiad for a long time," Zhao said.

The Japanese swimmers have competed in the national spring championships in March, the national short-course championships and the World Short Course Championships in Moscow, Russia, one month later.

In June, they took part in the national championships, a selection trial for the Pan Pacific Championships in Yokohama, Japan, in late August and the Asian Games.

Still recovering from his elbow injury, Kosuke Kitajima, winner of the men's 100 meters breaststroke in the Pan Pacific Championships, shattered the 10-year-old 200m breaststroke world record two days ago.

"Kitajima has set a standard and become a role model for all the Asian men swimmers."

Japan snatched two golds, four silvers and eight bronzes from the PanPacs and finished third after world powerhouse the United States and Australia, while China sent a seven-member team there for a lone bronze medal from world champion Luo Xuejuan.

"Maybe we will edge Japan in the swimming competition this time, but I have to say Japan is a strong and respectful rival as always. The victory is not always judged by gold medals," Zhao said.

(People's Daily October 5, 2002)