Special report: 2008 Olympic Games     

    BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Among the 14 Olympic rowing disciplines, the men's lightweight four final is widely expected to be hotly contested in two weeks' time in Beijing.

    Unlike other events, no squads have dominated this category since 2004 with several teams making the top in the major world competitions over the past four years.

    Denmark was the Olympic gold medallist in Athens. France, China, and Bratian were world champions in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively.

    After placing a disappointing fifth in the 2007 World Championships, the Chinese crew made a very strong comeback this year, taking two straight titles in World Cup regattas in Munich and Lucerne.

    As China's main medal hope in the men's categories, the crew, however, is by no means the best bet on an Olympic gold as they were only one second ahead of the third finishers in the two World Cup races. It is a sign that the race at the Beijing Games would bevery tight.

    The teams were very close and there were about eight teams that could make the top three, Germany's coach Uwe Karl Dender said in the Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park, venue of the Olympic rowing, canoeing, and marathon swimming events.

    Dender said that China had a good chance of taking the title on home soil, adding that France, Britain, Denmark, and Germany were also strong contenders. In the World Cups this year, Germany finished third in Munich and fourth in Lucerne.

    Wei Di, China Water Sports Center Director, the country's rowing and canoeing governing body, said the men's lightweight four final would be the most hotly contested of all rowing events as the discrepancy between the world number one and five was less than one second.

    The Olympic rowing finals are scheduled to be held on Aug. 16 and 17.