CHANGPING, Beijing - With two Olympic champions, China is aiming to stir taekwondo traditional powerhouse South Korea's throne in the world championships which was declared open here on Thursday.

Two young taekwondo players perform at the opening ceremony of 2007 Beijing Taekwondo World Championships tournament in Beijing May 17, 2007. [Xinhua]

China's Chen Zhong, twice Olympics gold winner and a French player take oath on behalf of all the athletes participating the 2007 Beijing Taekwondo World Championships at the opening ceremony of the tournament in Beijing May 17, 2007. [Xinhua]

Chen Zhong, two-time Olympic champion of the women's 67kg category, joined up with 2004 Athens Games' champion Luo Wei to stamp the domination in the heavyweight categories, with their teammates coming out all the way for more medals for the hosting country.

A total of 1,690 athletes from 122 countries and regions will compete in the biannual event. The competitions will kick off on Friday at the Changping Stadium, about 40 kilometers north of the city of Beijing.

South Korea, the birth place of the sport, has a clear advantage over its opponents as it is aiming for 7-9 gold medals in the tournament, while China also has the best shot of glory in the highest-level taekwondo tournament before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Chen vowed to win 72kg gold medal, the only trophy that excludes her after she won the Olympic and World Cup championships.

The 25-year-old won one silver and two bronze medals in the World Championships in her four attempts.

Luo, 24, who took the women's 67kg gold medal in Athens in 2004, is hoping to revenge a loss to defending champion Sarah Stevenson of Britain in the last version of the tournament in the 72kg.

Besides great prospect in the heavyweight categories, China also lives up with hope in small athletes and its male counterpart.

The 20-year-old Wu Jingyu, winner of the women's 47kg in the Asian Games last year, is on her way to become one of the best finweight athletes in the world and the favorite to win the event here.

Asian Games' silver-medalist Wang Hao will make his another attempt of the world championship in the men's 72kg.

The Lopez family of the Unites States is ready to repeat its glory in Beijing after three Lopezs won gold medals in the 2005 worlds.

Steven, Mark and Diana are all here for Americans' hope of medal collection.

Sixteen gold medals will be decided in the five-day tournament.