Britain's rowing teams are eyeing four medals in the up-coming Beijing Olympics, a senior team leader said on Wednesday.
"We will try to win four medals, whatever the color," said David Tanner, team leader of the British rowing team for the Beijing Olympics.
Britain will take 43 rowers in 12 boats to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing -- the largest team contingent since 1992, which reflect the nation's recent increased strength in depth in this traditionally strong sport for Britain at the Games, Tanner said.
"The Olympic Games bring out the best in every athlete whatever the sport," Tanner said, "everyone will be trying to peak at the right time on the right day, including the Chinese hosts who have emerged in the last four years to be a formidable force in our sport."
"We go to Beijing confident but aware of the size of the task ahead," Tanner said.
China, German and Australia will be the strongest competitors in Beijing, the British team leader said.
Among Britain's potential medal contenders will be the reigning world champions in the women's quadruple scull and the men's four who were world champions in 2005 and 2006, the team leader said.
Tanner said that Britain also has chances to succeed through the crews who have won world cup gold this year -- the men's single and double sculls, weight and lightweight double scull and the women's double scull, and the 2007 world champion lightweight men's four.
(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2008)