Japan's Masae Ueno (blue) competes against South Korea Bae Eun Hye during the final of women's under 70 kg judo competition at Asian Games in Doha December 3, 2006. Ueno won the gold medal. [Reuters]

Dispatching a large number of young players to the Doha Asiad, Japan was thinking of enriching experience to the callow and aiming for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Japanese Olympic Committee director Koji Kimura told Xinhua in an interview.

The Doha Asian Games will help the Japanese know more about foreign competitors and be well-prepared for the Beijing Olympics, Kimura said, describing the Games as an important comprehensive event bearing crucial significance for Japan.

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Although being regarded as a traditional sports power in Asia, Japan was not as strong as China and South Korea in recent Asian Games and its number of gold medals declined, Kimura said, adding that Japan is eager to reverse the situation.

Japan's intensified preparation for the Doha Games began last spring, and the Japanese Olympic Committee has not only provided economic support, but also sending officials to give face-to-face encouragement to players.

The fact that China is a world super power in table tennis, badminton and gymnastics allows Japan to feel like participating in a world meet, and the Japanese performances in these events in Doha may have some implications to the Beijing Olympics, Kimura said.

Doha is giving a stage, a challenge and an experience to the Japanese young players, said Kimura, who regarded the preparation for the future as more important than the mere pursuit of medals.