Du Li is the favorite in the 10m air rifle and could win China's first gold medal of the Games. [China Daily]

China's sharpshooters took four gold medals at the Athens Olympics, more than any other nation, and hope to improve on that record in Beijing.

The host team boasts strong contenders in five events: Women's 10m air rifle, men's 10m air rifle, women's 10m air pistol, women's 25m pistol, and women's skeet.

China could collect its first gold of the 2008 Olympics on the first morning of the Games, as the women's 10m air rifle final takes place at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall.

Defending Olympic champion Du Li is the clear favorite. Since Athens, she has won the World Cup twice, in 2004 and 2005, and added a world championship in 2006.

At the recent World Cup in Beijing, which was also an Olympic try-out, she took the bronze in the women's 10m air rifle and a gold in the women's 50m three positions.

"Before the Athens Games, I gave up this event to focus on the 10m air rifle. But I've always thought I could do well in both events and I have made good progress in the three positions," Du said.

Even if Du comes up dry, there will be plenty of opportunities for local spectators to celebrate.

Defending 10m air rifle champion Zhu Qinan won two golds and one silver at this year's World Cup tournaments, including the title in the Olympic try-out.

Three-time Olympian and world record holder Ren Jie and world champion Guo Wenjun will compete in the women's 10m air pistol. Guo upset Sydney Olympic champion Tao Luna to make her Olympic debut.

Chen Ying, who won all the world titles last year, is a clear favorite in the women's 25 pistol.

Athens silver medalist Wei Ning will try to become China's second Olympic skeet champion. Zhang Shan caused a sensation by taking the gold in 1992 and becoming the first woman to win a mixed sex shooting event.

China's shooters will be competing at home in Beijing, but that can be a mixed blessing.

"Fighting on home soil may be an advantage in other sports, but in shooting, we call it the 'home-venue curse'," said coach Wang Yifu.

"Past Olympics have taught us that host shooters often cannot perform normally due to pressures and disturbances. We'll do our best to break the curse."

To get used to home-court disturbances, the Chinese shooters have been training at the Olympic range for months and receive regular psychological counseling.

"When we compete in a foreign country, the spectators cannot disturb us much because we can't understand them," Du said.

"But at the Beijing Games there will be very loud cheers from our Chinese supporters and I can understand every word, so I need to get prepared for a very noisy and disturbing atmosphere."