Tong, who will participate in the over 78-kg competition in the Games, trained hard on Wednesday in Qatar Sports Club while Liu sat aside watching her teammate quietly with a smile on her face.

Tong and Liu, who are both 23 years old, are considered best hopes to grab judo gold medals for China in over-78 kg and open level in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In Doha, Tong is expected to meet Japanese young player Mai Tateyama, who replaced 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist Maki Tasukada after the latter withdrew from the Games over a calf injury.

Tong is expected to win easily and grab the gold medal at the Doha Games.

Tong snatched the gold medal for open level at the 2002 Busan Asian Games. She also defeated Tasukada last year at Judo world championships in Cairo.

Liu, 1.96 meters tall, will compete in the open level in Doha. Her main rival is Japanese Midori Shintani.

During an interview on Tuesday, Shintani said,"Liu is a formidable opponent."

"I never met her before, but I know she is a very good player,"said Shintani.

Liu grabbed two gold medals in over-78 kg as well as open level in 2004 in National Women's Judo Championships in China.

But for Tong and Liu, who will both turn 25 in 2008, the real prizes will be champions at the Beijing Olympics Games.

The rising of Tong and Liu is not a surprise as China dominates women's judo competition in over-78 kg and open level for a long time.

Except for an unexpected failure in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, four Chinese players grabbed the gold medals of over-78 kg at the Olympics Games in 1988 (exhibition), 1992, 1996, 2000, respectively.

All the four gold medalists came from Liaoning Province of China, and were all coached by Liu Yongfu.

However, Tong comes from Tianjin city and Liu from Jiangsu Province.

"It is good for balanced development of Chinese women judo," said coach Wu Feifeng during an interview with Xinhua.

Judo competitions of the Doha Asian Games will start on Dec. 2.