Doha - Chinese athletes are dominating the Asian Games but need to step up a level if they want to do the same at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chinese sports leaders say.

With the Asiad past the halfway mark, Chinese athletes has taken almost half the gold medals on offer but their performances have generally fallen a notch below world class standards.

"Though we have gained a lot of gold medals, very few of the performances have been of truly high international standard," said Duan Shijie, China's deputy sports minister.

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"There is still a big gap with the world's best."

China led the medal count with 103 golds to 34 for Japan and 27 for South Korea at the start of the ninth day of competition on Sunday.

Four years ago in Busan, China ended with 150 to 96 for the South Korean hosts and 44 for Japan.

On the whole, sports leaders are pleased with the performances of the Chinese athletes here and encouraged by the younger members of the delegation.

"Most of our athletes have performed very well and gained outstanding results," Duan said, noting a trio of women's weightliftng world records and good results in swimming, shooting, table tennis, gymnastics, judo and taekwondo.

"Our rivals are fierce and our own players have gained experience. Why should we not be satisfied."

The Chinese delegation is already analysing results from the Games with just under a week still remaining to determine how best to prepare their competitors for the Beijing Olympics.

"Some people think we are getting too many medals but I think maybe it is not enough," said Cui Dalin, deputy head of mission, noting that in the near future the Chinese athletes will be facing much tougher competition in Beijing.

"It is not to say that we are not attaching great importance to these Games," he added. "Some of the medals are of good international quality but not all of them."

"Judging by our performance so far China has maintained the same level of dominance exerted in previous Asian Games, keeping up with rising standards in the rest of Asia.

Duan added: "As you know competition in sports is constantly upgrading and if you are not making progress you are going backward. In the Asian region over the past four years everybody is improving."

He stressed that Chinese athletes had not only performed well but also conducted themselves with honour and dignity.

"Throughout the athletes have let the world see the new China which is more open, civilized, democratic and developed," he said.