Time to hit the overdrive button

Yet, much-improved rivals representing the host in the two racquet sports, and strong competitors from the West, such as the United States in gymnastics and Germany in shooting, make the Tokyo Games arguably the toughest-ever medal mission for the six Chinese squads.

"The one-year delay really messed up our plans and we are facing some extra pressure from the uncertainties," Zhou Jihong, team manager of China's all-conquering diving team, told CCTV following a domestic Olympic trial earlier this year.

"To continue high-intensity training for one more year is a tough call for our veterans, but on the bright side it presents us with the opportunity to conduct more sessions for our young divers to mature," added Zhou, who has been involved in all 40 Olympic gold medals won by the squad as either an athlete or team official since 1984.