China will send a delegation of nearly 1,000 to defend their Asian crown in the upcoming Asian Games in Doha, Qatar next month, which doubles as a dress rehearsal for the Beijing Olympic Games, a senior Chinese sports official said on Friday.

"As the Doha Asian Games will be the last large-scale international comprehensive sports meets for China, it is important that athletes and coaches collect experience for the Beijing Olympics," Duan Shijie, vice president of the State General Administration of Sports.

The Chinese capital will hold the 29th Olympic Games on August 8, 2008.

"The 928-member delegation, including 647 athletes, will compete in 37 out of 39 events in the 15-day tournament starting on Dec. 1 in Doha," he said.

"Of the 341 male and 306 female athletes, 167 took part in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and 176 competed in Busan Asian Games," said Duan. "But most of them, accounting for 63 percent of the total, are making their debut in an international comprehensive tournament."

"We hope the these Games can put our youngsters to test and give them a taste of what it will be like in the Olympics," he added.

Duan said with Beijing Olympics in mind, the Chinese delegation's another task is to win the most gold among the 45 countries and regions.

China pulled off 150 gold, 84 silver and 74 bronze medals four years ago in Busan to keep their top position the quadrennial tournament for 20 years running since the 1982 version of the Asian Games in New Delhi, India.

"The Chinese delegation will strive to top the medals table for the seventh time running," said Duan.

"Normally, most Chinese athletes will be in the winter training camp at this time of year, so they won't be at their peak during this period. But they are gearing up for the Asian Games in order to bring their best to display," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2006)