Indian women's number one Sania Mirza played down Chinese menace ahead of the December 4-14 Doha Asian Games tennis tournament when she named non-Chinese players as the favorites for women's singles on Saturday.

"The goal is to win a medal or the gold for my country (in singles) and I will give it my best," said Mirza, who has only won one Grand Slam singles match in 2006 and has made little impact elsewhere on the Women's Tennis Association Tour.

"But now I'm only thinking about the team event and I am looking forward to the draw. Then we have to take it match after match."

"In singles, it's hard to say. There will probably be some unknown players coming up and there are some good Japanese girls out there. It's going to be a tough event and we have to be at our best," said 66th-ranked Mirza.

However, the Chinese women players are no longer "unknown" after consecutively spectacular show in the past three years.

Top Asian player Li Na, who plays on the World Tennis Association (WTA) circuit and is ranked 21st in the world, will lead the Chinese charge in Doha.

The 24 year-old became the first Chinese woman to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament by making the last eight at the Wimbledon in July this year. She has also surpassed Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama, now ranked 26th, to become the top Asian player.

China's dream team also includes 23-year-old Zheng Jie, ranked 33rd in the world, who has also won both the Australian and Wimbledon doubles titles with compatriot Yan Zi.

Both players will contest the singles title in Doha and the team event alongside 20-year-old rising star, Peng Shuai, who is ranked 55th by the WTA and became first Chinese player to reach the last four of the China Open last September.

While Mirza had a patchy season in 2006 after breakthrough 2005season highlighted by her first tour singles title, two Top 10 wins and U.S. Open fourth round appearance.

"I feel no pressure all the time but that is something you can't avoid when you want to be number one. But I like it, the pressure is fun. It makes me work harder.

"I just try to block out what people say and enjoy the pressure. It's tough sometimes, but it's the beauty of being a tennis player."