BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese men's gymnastics team has better chance for the team title at the Beijing Olympics, Takahiro Moriizumi, head coach of defending Japanese men's team, said here Friday.

    "The Chinese team is currently very strong," Moriizumi said after his team's three-hour training at the National Indoor Stadium in the afternoon. The Japanese team, which touched down in Beijing on Thursday, had already practised for three hours on Friday morning.

    The men's gymnastics team gold is widely seen as a showdown between China and Japan, which outplayed the powerful Chinese to claim the title in Athens. China only finished fifth.

    After the Athens Games, the Chinese team resurged to top notch and claimed the team title for three conservative world championships.

    Moriizumi said he did not set a concrete goal for the Japanese team. "We only ask every individual to perform well and avoid errors," he said. "No matter how strongly the Chinese perform, we will do our best."

    Koji Gushiken, a coach of the Japanese team, said that in the men's team final, China may dominate Parallel bars but Japan may show strength in Horizontal Bar and Floor.

    Another coach of the Japanese team agreed that the Chinese gymnasts may have better chance, especially when they are playing before their home crowd. "But if they make mistakes, we will have our chance," he said.