Zhan Xugang, double Olympic champion will lead a strong Chinese weightlifting team for the world championships in Vancouver, Canada next month.

According to Pang Gaoxing, manager of the Chinese team, six lifters including Zhan Xugang, will be in the eight-member team for the worlds, which will decide berths for the Athens Olympic Games.

Li Hongli (77kg), Zhang Guozheng (69kg), Shi Zhiyong and Le Maosheng (62kg), and Wu Meijin (56kg) are the five other team members who are set to compete in the World Championships next month.

"All the six men lifters will turn up for sure if no accident like injury occurs," Pang told Xinhua Sunday while watching the Fifth Chinese City Games in Changsha.

Zhan Xugang, who won the men's 70kg in Atlanta and 77kg in Sydney, deserves special watch in the Chinese team. Zhan returns to training months ago after laying off for one year due to injury.

"Zhan is recovering," Pang said, "and I think he is approaching his best form at Olympic time."

In the 2003 Asian Championships held in China last month, Zhang Guozheng just set a new world record of 197.5kg in jerk of men's 69kg.

Although the Chinese men's team ranked No. 1 with the highest mark in 2002 championships, Pang denied to view China's possible results in Canada.

"It's hard to say although we did a pretty good job last year," he said.

The top six teams will book the ticket for Athens. Each team is able to dispatch the most of six lifters in 2004 Games.

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