It is optimistic for China to win medals in trampoline at the upcoming Olympic Games after its athletes won gold and silver medals at the World Championships last year.

"Chinese trampoline athletes have made great progress in recent years, and they are hopeful to win medals," said Gao Jian, director of the gymnastics center of the General Administration of Sport, on Tuesday.

The athletes are in good form and fully prepared for the Games, said Gao, also a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on the sidelines of the annual session of the top political advisory body.

China dominated the men's competition at last year's World Championships as Ye Shuai and Dong Dong won the gold and silver respectively.

The Chinese gymnastic team experienced a major setback at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, garnering only one gold and two bronze medals, which was sharply below previous expectations.

However, the gymnasts were much encouraged with five gold medals at last year's World Championships.

"I am sure they will do better than at the previous Games," Gao Jian said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2008)