特別推薦：奧運(yùn)英語(yǔ)專題

According to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), 400 competitors from 62 nations and regions will compete for medals in 11 competitions in Qingdao.

Sailing competitions are unpredictable thanks to the changeable weather, leaving more room for people to speculate on the possible results.

Over 2,500 sailors attended competitions at 10 qualification regattas across Europe, Oceania and North America to gain their nation a place at the Games.

Among Chinese competitors, women's windsurfer Yin Jian, men's windsurfer Wang Aichen and Xu Lijia in Laser Radial event are medal contenders.

The 21-year-old Xu Lijia stands at the forefront of the ever-increasing Chinese challenge. She won the 2006 sailing world championships and is currently ranked second worldwide.

Australia will be one of the most competitive teams with three competitors currently ranked No 1 in three of the 11 events, including Tom Slingsby of Laser who won the champion at the Kiel Week held in Germany. The country was ranked second on the medal tally of the 2007 Qingdao International Regatta with two golds, one silver and one bronze.

（英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津 Helen 編輯）

Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.

He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.