ATHENS, Sept. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The European countries will try tomaintain the top place in the medal standings at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games table tennis tournament. But they could expect no easy job as under pressure from Asia.

    In the last two games, France won the most medals (seven gold, six silver, five bronze in Sydney and six gold, six silver, five bronze in Atlanta). In the Barcelona Games in 1992, Germany sweptthe medals (nine gold, nine silver and ten bronze).

    In the 2004 Games in Athens, France is supposed to be one of the strongest countries, mainly threatened by the Chinese, South Koreans, Germans and Czechs.

    There will be 239 athletes from 43 countries and regions in theSeptember 18-27 table tennis tournament at the Galatsi Olympic Hall.

    Out of a total of 28 categories, which include standing and wheelchair events, 174 men will be competing in 18 categories and 65 women in ten categories. There are some athletes who have excelled in previous Paralympic Games and who have a good chance of preserving and enhancing their already great achievements.

    Zhang Xiaoling from China, who will compete in the women's individual-classes 6-8 and in women's teams 6-10, has in her possession five gold medals.

    Lee Hae Gon of South Korea, who will participate in Class 1, has won four gold medals (in the men's teams and men's singles at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, in the men's singles at the 1995Games in Atlanta and in the men's teams in 1992 in Barcelona).

    Another South Korean Kim Kyung Mook, who will compete in the men's Class 2, has enriched his career with three gold medals (in the men's singles and teams at the Sydney Games and in the men's singles at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games).

    Chinese Chen Weihong of the women's Class 5 has won two gold medals (singles and team events at Sydney) and French Jean-Philippe Robin has also won two gold medals (men's singles Class 3and men's team Class 3 at Sydney).

    The Greeks are participating for the first time. The competition begins on Saturday, September 18, with preliminaries of the men's singles Class 5. Enditem