Top-flight stars abound all over the region

Top: The reigning champion of the 'badminton kingdom', Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat. Bottom, from left: Thailand's women's tennis ace Tamarine Tanasugarn; Iraqi wrestler Jasim Mohammad (in blue, fighting against China's Liu Deli in 2006) and DPR Korea weightlifter Kim Un Guk. [Photo/Agencies]

Bahrain

Having not troubled the Asian Games gold table for more than 20 years, Bahrain stunned Asia by grabbing seven gold medals, 10 silver and four bronze in Doha, with six of the gold coming in track and field.

Bahrain finished second to China (14 gold) on the track in 2006. The west Asian country's great strides came through the recruitment of top foreign athletes, including Ethiopia-born Maryam Yusuf Jamal, who won the women's 1,500m in 4:08.63 and then completed a double in the 800m.

Besides athletics, Bahrain also ranks as one of the soccer favorites due to its fitness and aggressiveness. Its national team ranks sixth in Asia.

Chinese Taipei

A huge delegation of 560 members shows Chinese Taipei's ambition to make a mark in Guangzhou. Four years ago, Chinese Taipei won nine gold, 10 silver and 27 bronze medals in Doha. This year, it hopes to improve that gold tally.

Tennis contributed four golds, two silvers and three bronzes in 2006. Lu Yen-Hsun Lu, ranked No 34 in the world and No 1 in Asia will lead the squad. This year at Wimbledon, unseeded Lu became the first player from the island to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, and the first man from Asia to reach the quarterfinals at a major in 15 years, highlighted by his upset victory over world No 5 and fifth-seeded Andy Roddick in a four hour and 36 minute match.

Chinese Taipei also dominated women's billiards in 2006. Doha eight-ball champion Lin Yuan-chun and popular Chang Shu-han will try to defend Chinese Taipei's reign in Guangzhou.

Indonesia

Known as the "badminton kingdom", Indonesia has won at least one gold medal in badminton since the sport was first introduced to the Asian Games. It has won the Thomas Cup - the world team championship of men's badminton - 13 out of 26 times to be the most successful country in the tournament's history.

Born in 1981, Taufik Hidayat is Indonesia's leading figure on the world stage. He defeated Chinese Lin Dan in the final to successfully defend his title at the 2006 Doha Games. The Guangzhou event will see his battle with China's "Super Dan" continue as he seeks a hat-trick of titles.

Iran

Iran ranked sixth with 11 gold medals, 15 silver and 22 bronze at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. Besides soccer and basketball, it also performed strongly in wrestling and taekwondo.

Iran's soccer team, the 2006 Asian Games bronze medal winner, defeated China 10-9 in the quarterfinals after a nerve-jangling two-round penalty shootout. Iran then lost to host Qatar in the semifinals but gained the upper hand in the third-place playoff with South Korea.

The country's basketball team will also attract attention. At the 2009 Asian Championship, Iran thumped China 70-52 in Tianjin and topped the tournament for the second time.