The women's foil individual event of the Beijing Olympic Games, slated for Monday, is expected to be a showcase of the Italians, as they boast world's top women foilists Maria Valentina Vezzali, Giovanna Trillini and Margherita Granbassi.

Vezzali and Trillini won the gold and silver medals at the Athens Games. They remained in good form during the past four years and are currently ranked the top two in International Fencing Federation (FIE) world rankings.

Of other contenders, South Korea's Nam Hyunhee may have a shot. Nam is the best in Asia and among the top worldwide. Players of France, Germany, Hungary and the United States also have the potential to become a "dark horse" in this event.

China will field four fencers for the competition: Zhang Lei, Sun Chao, Huang Jialing and Chen Jinyan. Of the four, Zhang Lei enjoys the highest world ranking of the 17th.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)