The class of 2006, however, is made of sterner stuff. They want to set a precedent by winning at least one medal at the Doha Games.

The Amateur Fencing Association of Thailand (Afat) is fielding Wiradech Kothny, Sares Limkangwarnmongkol, Nontapat Panchan and Somkid Pongyu to take on the might of South Korea and China, who swept most of the medals in Busan four years ago.

Korean fencers took the lion's share of six gold medals, while the Chinese claimed five out of the twelve up for grabs, with the odd gold going to Kazakhstan.

Fencing in the Asiad is as competitive as it is in the Olympics and the standards are high as Korean and Chinese fencers are quite consistent on the world stage and ranked high.

The men's individual sabre silver medallist in the previous Asiad, Wang Jingzhi of China, is ranked 22, while Thailand's Wiradech is only 73rd in the world despite the fact that he won a bronze at the Sydney Olympics representing Germany.

Thai team manager Col Worawoot Woothisiri believes Thai fencers have a chance to win a medal, fighting off the strong challenge from the rivals.

"Our hopes are on the men's sabre team and individual events. Our target is quite modest in the women's section, and a last-eight place will be an achievement," he said.

"I do not want to put pressure on my fencers by spelling out my expectations. Wiradech and Nontapat have been training intensively throughout the year and I think their efforts will bear fruit," Worawoot added.

The Thai sabre team consisting of Wiradech, Sares, Ekkathet Ket-iam and Natee Kattancharoen competed in several world-class events including the World Championships in Turin to gain experience.

The team, under the watchful eye of coach Somkid Pongyu, a former fencer, is training in a fencing club in Germany for the past one month. Everyday, the members get an opportunity to pit their skills against some experienced German fencers.

"Wiradech is well-acquainted with various conditions in Germany. He is of great help during the national camp. He contacted a German fencing club, asked the staff coaches there for sparring partners for the Thai team and got the job done. The fencers need to get used to various styles," Worawoot said.

Meanwhile, Thailand's foil squad consisting of Nontapat and Phatthanapong Srisawat have been training in Canada.

"We are very lucky that Thai fencers are now under the tutelage of a Chinese coach, who is a former women's foil champion and works for the International Fencing Federation," he said.

The draw for the Games will be made squarely on the basis of world ranking points. "High-ranking players from China, Japan and South Korea will be seeded. We had to field our fencers in competitions all year to gain points and get better seeding at Doha. That would help them avoid strong fencers in early rounds," Worawoot said.

"Wiradech feels that he and a South Korean fencer are very close whenever they take on each other in competition. It's hard to say who is better. Wiradech says that if he meets the Korean in the later rounds, he would emerge winner," he said.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation