Have you ever heard of Li Qin and Tian Liang? Possibly not. They were nobody two years ago even in the world rowing circle.
But it was no longer the case after they won the World Rowing Championships in 2007. They can even become household names in China after the Beijing Olympics in August.
Li and Tian, women double scullers, have become the country's best bet for the first gold medal in the Olympic rowing events.
China won one silver and one bronze in Seoul in 1988 and one bronze in Barcelona in 1992. It clinched one more silver in Atlanta in 1996 before experiencing an 8-year medal drought.
The pair won the women's double sculls in the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich, Germany, more than three seconds ahead of Olympic champions Evers-Swindell sisters of New Zealand.
The two remained at the top spot ever since and won two World Cup regattas in Munich in May and in Switzerland's Lucerne in June.
Li, 27, wrote in her diary: "I have a dream. That is to stand on the top of the podium to the cheers of flag-waving home crowds at the Beijing Olympic Games."
Li, a native of southwest China's Sichuan province, joined the national rowing team in 2002 and paired with Tian Liang to clinch the double sculls gold in the Asian Games in Qatar in 2006.
The pair has very tacit cooperation as the line-up traced back to 2005 when Tian from northeastern province of Liaoning entered the national team.
China may, at its best ever time, make a breakthrough in the rowing events by winning the first gold medal on the home field.
The national rowing team has earned a total of 11 Olympic berths among 14 events.
Other best gold medal hopes include the men's lightweight four and the women's lightweight double sculls, both world champions.
China won a stunning five golds, one silver, and three bronzes in the World Cup in Lucerne, raising Olympic gold medal hopes for the Beijing Games.
Cao Jingwei, head of the national rowing team, said that despite the improvement over the past couple of years, there was still a huge gap between Chinese rowers and their rivals in the rowing powers, such as Britian and Germany.
"We need further techniques and mentality improvement to become champions at the Beijing Games," said Cao.
This was echoed by coach Zhou Qinian.
He said that under tremendous pressure on the home field, the athletes needed to be determined and cool-minded enough as mental state was key to the final results.
Li Qin and Tian Liang will face severe challenges next month in Beijing, as New Zealanders Evers-Swindell sisters may take advantage of their experience to hinder the Chinese rival from climbing onto the top of the podium.
"We'll train hard to be the world best," said the 22-year-old Tian.
"I wish I can very proudly tell the whole world that our boat can be the world best, and I believe we can create history."
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2008)