Kim Kum Ok, a young woman marathoner of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), declined to predicted her result in Beijing, saying "it was not the time to talk big before the match."

But Bae Gwang Haeng, the vice chairman of the DPRK Track and Field Association, was optimistic about his runners, reported Thursday the Choson Sinbo, a newspaper run by ethnic Koreans in Japan.

"They were confident on the matches," said Bae, adding the runners were in good shape and the woman marathoners were particularly light-hearted.

A total of six DPRK marathoners have qualified for the Beijing Olympics. Kim Kum Ok was pinned high hope to grab a medal in Beijing.

The 22-year-old runner won the title of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2008 in February. "My win is excellent preparation for the Beijing Olympics and I will try very hard to finish with a medal at the Games," she said.

For preparing for the Games, DPRK marathoners trained for a month in the country's mountain area from June.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2008)