With the nation still in mourning over the deaths in May's earthquake, China's athletes must focus hard on their preparation as they enter the final lap before the Beijing Games in August.

GRIM SITUATION

Many Chinese people had been looking forward to seeing their athletes win many gold medals in Beijing. That was before Cuban Dayron Robles broke the world record of 110 meters hurdles, the discipline in which China's top medal hope and current Olympic and world champion Liu Xiang was pencilled in by many as a banker for gold.

Liu went to the United States in late May to take part in two top-level races but flopped in both, after a false start and a hamstring twinge.

Another blow came on the gymnastics floor, where China's athletes bore great hopes on their shoulders.

A new rule by the International Gymnastics Federation reduced the group competing in team event from six members to five and cancelled the privilege of all-round athletes in participating in specific events, a move to lessen the advantage of some teams.

"This is unfavorable to us," said Zhang Peiwen, head of the Chinese gymnastics team, "it is easier for more teams to form a five-member team rather than one with six ace players."

In shooting, Xiao Haopeng, head of the Chinese shooting squad, saw the dramatic progress of foreign shooters after three World Cups earlier this year, especially those from Germany, Russia and France.

"Previously we thought that we had an advantage in competing in finals, but now, the advantage is gone," he said.

Women's 10-meter air rifle is supposed to produce the first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics , and Du Li, world record holder and gold medallist at the Athens Olympics , is preparing to defend her title.

However, in the test event of Good Luck Beijing ISSF World Cup, Du only picked up a bronze in the event, surrendering the gold to Czech markswoman Katerina Emmons, who equaled the world record with 504.9 points.