Now that the 2005 sports season is over, another wild year of sports is on the way. From the Turin Winter Olympics in the beginning of the year to the Doha Asian Games at the end, world sports in 2006 will be full of exciting challenges and competition. And Chinese athletes, facing a busy sports calendar, are gearing up for more breakthroughs throughout the year.

The year-opening Winter Olympics in Turin is one of the most important sports events in 2006. China, who won only two gold medals in Salt Lake City four years ago, is aiming to snatch more golds in speed skating, women's aerial and figure skating.

China world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo will lead the figure skating squad to attend the Turin Games. Despite his foot injury, Zhao was optimistic about the competition in February.

"We are training actively for the 2006 Winter Olympics. We promise to do our best in the games to satisfy the hopes of our fellow citizens."

Being the world's top powerhouse in ping pong, China's paddlers will fight to defend their title at the world table tennis team championships in April.

Meanwhile, Chinese shutters are aiming at reclaiming the top men's and women's badminton team trophies at the Thomas and Uber Cups.

September will see the year's biggest athletics event, the 2006 IAAF World Cup, to be held in Athens.

China's world champions Liu Xiang and Xing Huina will represent Asia to compete in the event, two years after their Olympic triumph in the capital city of Greece.

Feng Shuyong, head coach of China's track and field team, said China attached great importance to the international meet.

"The World Cup is the most important event for China's athletics in 2006. It will be a valuable experience in our preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games."

The year-ending Doha Asian Games is regarded as a rehearsal for the Beijing Olympic Games. China, who topped the Games medal tally six straight times, will send its largest-ever delegation to the Games.

Cui Dalin, China's deputy sports minister, said China will take this opportunity to train for the 2008 Games.

"The Asian Games is a continental sports event. It will be the last multi-sports competition before the Beijing Olympics. We will dispatch our strongest squad to Doha. Most of the athletes in the Chinese delegation will compete in the Beijing Games in 2008. "

What kind of performance will Chinese athletes produce in these international events? Are they ready for the 2008 Olympics? We'll have to wait and see.