Last chance - it's do-or-die for British Olympic hopefuls

Eight is a Chinese lucky number. It will not be for all. For each of the blessed few who will stand on the podium in Beijing, there will be thousands who will not even get on a plane to the Chinese capital.

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For instance, the British rowing squad for this summer's first international regatta in Munich is named today. With only two more events before Beijing, anybody not chosen can kiss their Olympic hopes farewell.

For flat water canoeists, the final British selection race is next weekend in Nottingham.

For the three-day eventers, next weekend's Badminton event is critical.

Taekwondo players, gymnasts and triathletes will know their fate before the end of next month. Some already know theirs. Shirley Robertson, one of the 'blondes in the boat' who won gold in Athens, has lost her place to a former crew-mate.

Rebecca Cooke, Commonwealth freestyle champion and medallist in European and world championships in 2006, missed the cut despite swimming more than 6.25million metres in training and has retired.

Richard Kruse, Britain's best fencer, finished eighth in the foil at the 2004 Olympics but after breaking a bone in his foot was so short of stamina that he ran out of steam when his final qualifying contest went to extra time at 11-11 last Saturday.

He lost an Olympic place by a single hit and is first reserve for Beijing. His only chance is that a fencer who has qualified gets injured or fails a drug test.

'It's happened. Three British fencers got into Sydney as reserves so I've said to him, "Don't book any holidays for August",' said performance director Graham Watts.

Decathlete Dean Macey, Commonwealth champion in 2006 and fourth in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, has been unable to compete for two years because of injury. His last chance to achieve the Olympic selection standard is at Hexham in July.

Rower Alex Partridge's problem is that he has too many talented team-mates.

Robbed of a gold medal in 2004 when a collapsed lung cost him his seat in the winning coxless fours crew, he is among six men vying for four seats and may find out today that he has missed out again.

Then there is 37-year-old Jason Queally, whose gold medal in Sydney was the catalyst for the transformation of Britain's track cycling team. His event, the kilo, has been scrapped from the Olympics and he was not picked for last month's triumphant world championship team.

An Italian expert in Olympic matters calculated this month that Britain would win a record 18 golds and rise to fifth in the medal table in Beijing. Lucky for some then, but not the vast majority.

ARCHERY

Alison Williamson, Naomi Folkard and Charlotte Burgess, winners of two World Cups in last 12 months, are potential team medallists.

ATHLETICS

Don't expect three golds, as in 2004, but Paula Radcliffe, heptathlete Kelly Sotherton and triple jumper Phillips Idowu are realistic contenders.

BADMINTON

Mixed doubles pairings of Gail Emms/Nathan Robertson and Donna Kellogg/Anthony Clark, plus women's doubles Emms/Kellogg, are all world ranked in top six.

BOXING

Eight boxers qualified. World champion Frank Gavin, David Price and Joe Murray are good medal bets.

CANOEING

World champion Tim Brabant in flat water K1000 and Olympic silver medallist Campbell Walsh in slalom will expect medals.

CYCLING

GB is only team with maximum 10 in track cycling. Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton will expect golds. In BMX, world champion Shanaze Reade is favourite for gold.

EQUESTRIANISM

GB has qualified full team in dressage, eventing and show jumping. All eyes on 2006 world and European eventing champion Zara Phillips.

GYMNASTICS

Britain has qualified women's team and two men. Beth Tweddle on uneven bars and Louis Smith on pommel could medal.

HOCKEY

Both men and women qualified but a medal would surprise.

JUDO

No medals at this month's Europeans dampens expectations but watch for Katrina Bryant at her third Olympics.

MODERN PENTATHLON

Maximum of two women's spots to be contested by four possible candidates, anyone of whom could medal.

ROWING

Qualified boats in 11 of 14 classes. Coxless four strongly fancied to defend title that gave Matt Pinsent fourth gold.

SAILING

Qualified in all 11 classes. Ben Ainslie, bidding for third gold in Finn, and Sarah Ayton, at helm in Yngling, are both current world champions.

SHOOTING

Qualified five places. 2000 gold medallist Richard Faulds goes this time in double trap with Steve Scott and they are medal contenders.

SWIMMING

Team of 37, with Liam Tancock, Becky Adlington and women's relay in the medal hunt.

TABLE TENNIS

Teenager Paul Drinkhall plays for his place in the Budapest event next week.

TAEKWONDO

Team of three from possible four qualified. Sarah Stevenson in 67kg+ category could medal at third Games.

TENNIS

Team to be selected on June 9 according to world rankings; only British number one Andy Murray is a medal contender.

TRIATHLON

Former world champion Tim Don has just won World Cup, but team not decided until the end of May.