Chinese triple jumper Li Yanxi, the Asian Games champion, has made moves up the world rankings and will be looking for a morale-boosting chamionships ahead of the Olympics, but a podium finish looks unachievable.

Australia has two of the top pole vaulters in the world in Steven Hooker and Paul Burgess while Japan's Daichi Sawano is also top 10 material, offering the region one of its better minor medal prospects.

The Australians will also be cheering on muscle man Scott Martin in the shot putt as he goes up against the American might of Reese Hoffa and Daniel Taylor.

Among the women, Australian 1500m specialist Sarah Jamieson could upset the odds but has to cope with Bahraini import Maryam Yusuf Jamal, who previously ran for Ethiopia, and a trio of Russian heavyweights.

Japan's Kumiko Ikeda and Australia's Bronwyn Thompson lead the regional challenge in the long jump while China's Li Ling and Li Meiju are shot put contenders with Song Aimin gunning for gold in the discus.

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