Olympic gold medalists Chen Zhong and Luo Wei have expressed their hunger to beat all comers at the World Taekwondo Championships in Beijing from May 18 to 22.

Sixteen of the nation's best taekwondoists will battle it out with world's top athletes in the tournament, which will draw almost 1,000 participants from 121 countries and regions.

China's Chen Zhong (left) attacks France's Myriam Baverel during the women's taekwondo over 67 kg gold medal match at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in this August 29, 2004 file photo. The two-time Olympic champion and teammate Luo Wei will lead a 16-member squad to fight forgolds at the World Taekwondo Championships, which takes place in Beijing from May 18 to 22. [Reuters]

China's Chen Zhong (left) attacks France's Myriam Baverel during the women's taekwondo over 67 kg gold medal match at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in this August 29, 2004 file photo. The two-time Olympic champion and teammate Luo Wei will lead a 16-member squad to fight forgolds at the World Taekwondo Championships, which takes place in Beijing from May 18 to 22. Reuters

Luo was also the gold winner at the 2003 World Championships. Her teammate Chen, a two-time Olympic champion, has yet to win a world championship crown, and this time she is convinced the +72kg title will be hers.

"I have been working very hard for the event. My only aim here is to win a gold medal. It is a big test before the 2008 Beijing Olympics and also a rare chance to compete on home soil. I will be focused on the top of the podium," said Chen.

A record 989 athletes will take part in the tournament, including three Olympic champions and eight champions from the Worlds two years ago.

Among them, Athens 58kg gold medalist Chu Mu-Yen from Chinese Taipei, 68kg champion Hadi Bonehkohal of Iran and 80kg winner Steven Lopez of US are the biggest stars in the men's field, while China's Chen-and-Luo-inspired team is tipped to be the strongest medal contender in the women's competition.

China's taekwondo authorities are optimistic about the women's team's chances.

"I have confidence in the women's team. All eight competitors in the eight categories are able to at least challenge for a medal finish. The worst result by a female athlete on this team is a national title. The rest of them are winners in major international competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and World Universiade Games," said Zhao Lei, deputy director of the Taekwondo Administrative Center.

Zhao singled out a budding athlete as a likely dark horse in the tournament.

"Liu Jing is improving rapidly in the 59kg. It is likely we'll see her as a surprise winner."

Liu, 19, was called up by the national team early this year and won the national crown in April.

But Zhao is concerned about the draw, as some of the best fighters are likely to duke it out before the final.

"It is so competitive in some categories that some of the best athletes are grouped in the first pool. It means our players will meet the biggest opponents before the final, and it will increase the risk of injury."

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