Malta's Double Trap shooting hopeful William Chetcuti yesterday told reporters he is carrying no extra pressure on his shoulders before next month's Olympic Games. He promised to do his best and, possibly, qualify for the barrage final.

Malta will be represented by five other athletes in Beijing 2008.

One of them is swimmer Ryan Gambin. His expectations are relatively high as he is targeting a place in the semi-finals in his favourite 100m butterfly stroke.

It will be difficult though for sprinter Charlene Attard to clear the first hurdle in the 100m heats.

However, like Chetcuti and Gambin, she also has her own targets, albeit more modest, and wants to improve her national record in China.

Many reckon that Chetcuti, 23, is Malta's best prospect of nearing a podium finish in Beijing following a series of stunning exploits on the international scene that raised his profile by several notches these past few years.

Some poor results in World Cup shoots this season gave the impression that the Mellieħa shooter was competing under pressure as the level of expectation attributed to him suddenly became heavier. However, Chetcuti assured those present for a Maltese Olympic Committee con-ference call at Tal-Qroqq yesterday that in Beijing he will be aiming for targets with better composure and no tension to perform.

"Beijing will be my second Olympic Games," he said.

"I'll never forget my experience in Athens 2004 and I think I did well on that occasion. Ninth place in the Games is more than just creditable.

"It will be difficult to repeat my performance but my build-up was good and this time I have four more years of experience in the bag. Competition will be tight, as ever. But, there will be no extra pressure to worry me this time even though I know people here will be eagerly awaiting for my result.

"I guess, a place in the Double Trap final will be a great result. If I manage to get into the barrage, then anything can happen."

Shooting is a particular sport, Chetcuti, who will have 2,000 cartridges available for training, said. It all depends on one's form on the day. In Beijing, on August 12, it will be no different.

"Our sport relies mostly on skill and concentration," he said.

"You can have one day of brilliant results in training but the next day you could be a flop. Lately, I've shown better consistency in my performances during the build-up to the Games. That's encouraging as I want to reach a high level of competition in Beijing.

"I'm confident in my abilities in Double Trap. I fear no one of the other competitors. In a World Cup shoot in Belgrade not long ago I finished second and on that occasion the entry list included some of those who will be at the Olympics. As I said, it all depends on current form on competition day."

Chetcuti's comments were music to the ears of Malta Shooting Sport Federation president Saviour Portelli.

"That's the kind of spirit we want William to show in Beijing," he said.

"We did our utmost to prepare an adequate programme for him before Beijing and I think we did well in this regard. We had renowned Double Trap coach Roberto Castellani here last week to assist William.

"Castellani is of the opinion that William is on the right track and his training schedule was excellent. Now, we all hope to see our shooter doing well and for the federation to reap desired dividends from all this."

MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco feels that his organisation had done its part to see that Chetcuti gets all the assistance he requires to be competitive in Beijing.

"You can't blame anyone for being so optimistic on William's chances in Beijing. He's such a talented shooter," he said.

"However, we were also careful not to burden him with too much weight of expectation. We have full confidence in him and also in the others in our contingent in that regard."

Gambin has registered a spate of record-breaking results lately. He established several national records since moving to Malta from Australia but his most impressive result was direct qualification to the 100m butterfly event in Beijing.

"This will be a whole new experience for me," he said.

"I'm setting no particular targets but I promise I will be swimming the fastest I can.

"My priority is to reach the semi-finals. That would be an outstanding result for me and the country. I've had some improved results lately. If I keep progressing, I think I stand a good chance of making the top 16 in the 100m butterfly."

In Beijing, Gambin will be accompanied by Madeleine Scerri, another Maltese-Australian swimmer.

ASA vice-president Michael Gialanze said his association had done anything they could to provide their swimmers with the best possible preparation for the Games, including the latest swimwear.

"Ryan took part in various meets outside the country this year and he also had a training camp in Spain," he said.

"His timings are indeed remarkable and we know he is good enough to reach his goals in the Games."

In track and field, the MOC will have Attard and Nicolai Portelli in the 100m and 200m respectively.

Attard, 21, is the fastest Maltese sprinter following her record 11.93s in the 2007 GSSE in Monaco.

"Our chances in athletics are indeed remote. We can never reach the levels of other big countries in competition. However, in Beijing I want to break the 12-second barrier again and, perhaps, establish another new record."

Judoka Marcon Bezzina is the other athlete in the MOC contingent.

Earlier this month, she was selected to carry Malta's flag in the opening ceremony on August 8.