ATHENS, Aug. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Croatian veteran paddler Zoran Primorac said here Monday evening that he saw much chance to beat China's ace player Ma Lin in their next round encounter in the table tennis tournament of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

    "He (Ma) is one of the best players in the tournament, and I think he is one of the favorites for gold medal. Still I see much chance to win," said Primorac following his 4-1 win against SrdjanMilicevic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in men's singles round 2.

    "While Ma will play his first round tomorrow (Tuesday), I have already played one match and I'm used to the conditions (on the court)," said the Croat.

    Moreover, the Croat also believed that Ma would "be nervous to take his first round".

    However, he also conceded that he had to "play really good" if he wanted to win Tuesday's match.

    Ma, winner of the 2003 World Cup and now ranked 2nd in the world, will play Primorac in men's singles round 3 scheduled for 7p.m. Tuesday.

    The 24-year-old Ma is not only 11 years younger than the 27th-ranked Croat, but also had three days off since the opening of thetournament due to his high seeding position.

    But Primorac said this would be no problem for him. "One match a day is not very hard for me and I have no problem (in physical conditions)," he claimed.

    For coaches of the Chinese team, what worried them most was therich experience of the Croat, a five-time Olympian who won a doubles silver in Seoul 1988.

    This is the first time for Ma to participate in the Olympic Games. Enditem