(BEIJING, August 20) �C Thursday will see the Women's -57kg competition and the Men's -68kg competition take place at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium.

　　Women's -57kg weight class

　　As the first finisher at the Olympic world qualifying tournament, Lim Su-jeong of the Republic of Korea (ROK) might very well get gold in her Olympic debut. Lim will spare no efforts to mark her birthday, which is celebrated one day prior to the competition, with a belated birthday present.

　　Lim will face a strong challenge from Diana Lopez of the United States. As a sibling of the renowned Lopez family, including Steven Lopez and Mark Lopez, who will be competing in the Men's competition, and Jean Lopez, the head coach of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Taekwondo team, Diana Lopez won the 2005 world champion title and a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships.

　　Asian champion SU Li-wen of Chinese Taipei will pose a major threat to Lim and Lopez.

　　Nineteen-year-old Croatian athlete Martina Zubcic, the youngest competitor in the weight class, an achiever on the European taekwondo scene, may give fans some pleasant surprises.

　　Men's -68kg weight class

　　As eight weight divisions have been merged into four at the Olympics, two reining world champions, 67-72kg Sung Yu-chi of Chinese Taipei, and Featherweight 62-67k Gessler Viera of Cuba have both been placed in the same division, the Men's -68kg.

　　Nesar Ahmad Bahave of Afghanistan, the 2007 world silver medalist, could win a second medal for his country, after his compatriot Rohullah Nikpai claimed a bronze medal in Day One's competition. Although Bahave has won no major titles, he performed brilliantly at the world qualifying tournament, where he defeated both Gessler Viera and Mark Lopez.

　　Mark Lopez, the younger brother of the renowned Taekwondo family, is also among the medal favorites. He will compete on the same day as his sister Diana Lopez. Lopez is the 2005 world title winner and the fifth finisher at the 2007 world championships.

　　Nineteen-year-old Turkish taekwondo fighter Servet Tazegul is another potential medal contender. The young athlete claimed the title at the 2008 European championships in Rome.