{image-beijing 2008 kidu padam_18082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Beijing, Aug 18 : China's sporting heads are maintaining a cautious tone, saying the team may not be able to win as many gold medals to top the medal tally, as earlier thought.
As of now, China leads the medal's tally with 35 golds, 16 more than second-placed US.The China Daily quoted, Cui Dalin, China's deputy Chef de Mission, as saying that Team China's best has passed since most competitions in the country's top sports have ended. Many believe that with another week of sporting events, China will break its previous best of 32 golds, a mark it set four years ago in Athens, and overtake the US as No 1 in the medal tally.
Chinese officials, however poured cold water on these high expectations, saying, "In the remaining program, we are not strong, particularly in athletics and team sports such as basketball and soccer."
"China is traditionally strong in weightlifting, shooting, judo and badminton, and the Beijing Games has been no exception," the officials added.
Chinese athletes have won five gold medals in shooting, three golds in judo and three in badminton.
Chinese weightlifters have won an overwhelming eight golds out of nine events that they have entered.
China can still win a batch of gold medals in a number of sports, such as table tennis, taekwondo and gymnastics. Moreover, it also has an outside gold medal chance in cycling, boxing, beach volleyball and sailing.