China confident of women hammer throwers' medal chance in Athens

China will send three woman hammer throwers to compete in the Athens Olymic Games and they arevery likely to win a medal, a top Chinese track and field official said Saturday in Shijiazhuang.

Feng Shuyong, head coach of the Chinese national team, said that Zhang Wenxiu, Gu Yuan will definitely take part in the Olympic Games while Liu Yinghui and Zhao Wei will vie for the third place.

Zhang has emerged as China's best hammer thrower as she has maintained a good form in the past two years.

"Zhang is only 19 years old and is capable of winning a medal,"Feng said.

Zhang set an Asian record early in April in the season opener in Nanning with a distance of 72.37 meters.

She won the event again in Saturday's Olympic trials in 72.01 meters, followed by Gu in 68.79.

"The result is no good," Zhang said after the competition. "I feel very bad."

Feng said that Zhang can regularly throw the hammer as far as 74 meters in training, but she should do it in international competitions.

"She is too young to be mature mentally," Feng said. "It takes time."

"Now we have three very good hammer throwers and I am confidentof winning a medal in Athens."