15th Asian Games

SINGAPORE -- As the last major multi-sport event before the Beijing Olympics, the Asian Games provided vital insights about who might do what at the highly-anticipated 2008 sporting showpiece.

What became blindingly clear from the Doha Games was that China is the best Asia has and -- while lacking in swimming and athletics -- will be challenging the United States in the race to top the medals table.

While many of the times set by the 45 countries involved in Qatar were off world bests, Asia can comfortably say it will be in the hunt for gold in many events come 2008.

The region has some of the world's best boxers which were reinforced in Doha, with Olympic, world and regional champions serving up quality fare.

While Uzbekistan came out on top of the final boxing medals table, China, through Zou Shiming in light flyweight and Hu Qing in lightweight, bagged its first golds in 16 years.

Thailand and the Philippines also proved they have the talent to cause jitters in traditional Olympic power Cuba.

Asia also has some of the world's best weightlifters, highlighted by the Chinese women who set four world records in Doha, with defending Olympic champion Chen Yanqing the star performer.

She produced an incredible triple world record-setting performance to take the 58kg crown, while Thailand's Pawina Thongsuk chipped in with a new world mark in the clean and jerk of the women's 63kg category.

Some promising swimmers emerged, not least 17-year-old Park Tae-Hwan of South Korea who took three freestyle golds and given time could cause problems to the US-Australian domination of the sport.

Park swam under 15 minutes for the 1500m, a rare feat that drew praise from world record holder Grant Hackett.

Japan's double Olympic breaststroke champion and former world record holder Kosuke Kitajima proved he is on the way back after a lean run of form since Athens, grabbing two Asian Games gold.

Their progress in the lead-up to Beijing will be laid bare at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne in March.

Few have any doubts China's divers will be on the podium in Beijing after their record-breaking 10 gold medal clean sweep in Doha, and achieved without some of their biggest names.

On the athletics track Asia has never matched the European and American might but it has hopes -- China's Liu Xiang is the world 110m hurdles record holder and ran an Asian best in Qatar.

The Arab states can call on their foreign legion of imported stars such as dual world middle distance champion Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain and Qatar's two-time 3,000 meters steeplechase world champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen.

China also has some fresh ammunition in the blue riband event it is desperate to crash, with 17-year-old Xue Fei winning the women's 5,000m ahead of more favored opposition.

Badminton and table tennis are Asian domains and it will be the rest of the world trying to muscle into these sports rather than the other way round in Beijing.

Defending Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia signaled he is back to his best by beating world No.1 Lin Dan of China in the final while Hong Kong's Wang Chen upstaged traditional world powers China and Malaysia to lift the women's crown.

China has always been a table tennis power, and held off a refreshing charge from Hong Kong in Doha, with a new crop of young players in Qatar proving there are more Olympic champions waiting in the Chinese ranks.

The emerging economic powers of Thailand, Malaysia and India, along with Singapore, also won many medals in Doha and will be confident of getting on the Olympic podium.