Five current and past Olympic champions spearhead a 72-member group of Chinese sharp shooters when they embark their World Championships journey on Thursday.

Du Li and Zhu Qinan, Athens Olympic 10m air rifle winners for women and men respectively feature the squad, which also includes former Olympic champions Li Duihong, Zhang Shan and Yang Ling.

"These World Championships will see almost all the top-level shooters gather in Zagreb," said Gao Zhidan, shooting section chief of China State General Administration of Sports.

"The tournament offers 54 berths in Beijing Olympic Games, and also doubles as a dress rehearsal for the athletes," he said.

Chinese marksmen and women will compete in 20 events. They have clinched 23 Olympic tickets in previous competition.

The quadrennial championships, attracting 1990 athletes from 95 countries and regions to the Croatia capital, will be the last chance for grabbing Olympic qualifications.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2006)