¡¡ ATHENS, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- A group of big names will compete in the women's 25 pistol event on Wednesday with Bulgaria's Maria Grosdeva looking to defend her Olympic title at the Athens Games.

    Grosdeva, who edged China's Tao Luna to win the event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, is a standout favorite. She won a World Cup race in Milan this year and finished second

    But Grosdeva will find no easy work as China's Chen Ying is determined to avenge teammate Ren's defeat by the Bulgarian in a shoot-off for the bronze medal in women's 10m air pistol on Sunday.

    "I think Chen is very competitive," said Xu Haifeng, head coachof the Chinese shooting team.

    "She stands a fairly good chance to win," he added.

    Wednesday's competition will also be the last chance for Gundegmaa Otryad to prove her world number one status after the 26-year-old Mongolian failed to reach the women's 10m air pistol final on Sunday.

    German world champion Munkkhbayar Dorjsuren, Azerbaijan's Irada Ashumova, the runner up at the 2002 World Championships, are also the shooters to watch.

    The women's double trap, the second event to be contested on Wednesday, will make its last appearance at the Olympics for it will be dropped from the Beijing 2008 program.

    Defending Olympic champion Pia Hansen, who holds the Olympic record, and American Kimberly Rhode, gold medallist at the AtlantaOlympics in 1996, are rated as hot favorites for the title.

    Australian Suzanne Balogh, who overcame big winds to take the women's trap gold on Sunday, will be hoping to make a historical double.

    Gao E, who finished a disappointing last among all 17 competitors in Sunday's trap event, is to try her luck in double trap, which is sure not her specialty. Her Chinese compatriot Li Qingnian, however, has a realistic shot at the gold medal. Li, who won the World Cup finals in 2003, has shown consistent form this year.

    Two-time Olympic champion Yang Ling of China will be a striking absentee at the men's 10m running target event, which has its first day of qualification round contested on Wednesday. Yang sprained his Achilles tendon during a badminton frolic only days before leaving for the Athens Games.

    China, who is seeking its fourth shooting gold in Athens, had named Li Jie as a replacement for Yang. Li and teammate Geng Hongbin will work together to make up for the loss of Yang.

    Other medal contenders include Oleg Moldovag, bronze medallist in the Sydney Olympics, and Russian world champion Dimitri Lykin. Enditem