Japan aims to reach 60 gold medals and outnumber the Republic of Korea (ROK) to finish second in the gold medal standings behind host China at the upcoming Asian Games, its delegation chief said on Wednesday.

At the Games 2006 in Doha, ROK was second in the gold medal standings for the third straight Asian Games, leading Japan 58 to 50. China took home 165 gold medals.

"I'm impressed by all the modernized sporting facilities and venues in Guangzhou," Ichihara said. "China successfully hosted the Beijing Olympics two years ago. We believe the upcoming Asian Games will be a great one, too."

"Not only China, Japan and ROK, but other countries such as India and ASEAN nations have shown significant improvement in sports, so the three countries' dominance might be talk of the past," he said.

Japan will participate in all 42 sports, including non-Olympic ones, and 476 medal events are played over the 15-day period from Saturday.

- The Mainichi Daily News (Japan)