China's equestrian team will field six top riders from different parts of the country in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games equestrian events, the Chinese Equestrian Association said in a meeting with the press yesterday.

    The events will be held in Hong Kong from August 9 to 21.

    The fact that China has taken up the entire quota of six places it was entitled to as the host country symbolizes the rapid development of equestrian sports on the mainland and the good results it has achieved under the leadership of national sports authorities, the association said.

    The six qualified riders include dressage rider Liu Lina, and eventing rider Hua Tian. The other riders are Li Zhenqiang, Huang Zuping, Zhang Bin and Zhao Zhiwen, who will all take part in jumping events.

    The six riders come from Xinjiang, Guangdong, Tibet, Shanghai and Jiangsu.

    Liu Lina, who comes from Xinjiang, gained admission to the Olympic Games equestrian dressage event in March this year. Hua Tian, who comes from Guangdong, gained his through an eventing competition held in Poland at the end of April.

    In early May, Li Zhenqiang (also from Guangdong), Zhang Bin (Shanghai), Wang Zuping (Tibet) and Zhao Zhiwen (Jiangzu) gained entries to the Olympics with excellent performances in jumping events held in Belgium and Germany.

    In particular, Li performed remarkably well in a five-star jumping competition by jumping over barriers of 1.6 m high.

    At present, the qualified riders are still training in Germany, England, Belgium and France and will take part in a few international competitions in the run-up to the Olympic Games.

    The team will arrive in Hong Kong on July 26.