Basketballer Yao Ming leads China's delegation into the National stadium in Beijing during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Aug 8, 2008. The Chinese flag bearer for the London Games remains a mystery. Michael Kappeler / Agence France-Presse

Most of China's top candidates will probably be unavailable at opening ceremony, Tang Zhe reports.

The Chinese Olympic delegation hasn't selected a flag bearer for the 2012 London Games, as many favored candidates probably can't make the date.

Many fear participating in Friday's opening ceremony will affect their preparations for the competition.

While authorities haven't yet announced who will take the honor, deputy chef de mission Xiao Tian told media at the Beijing airport on Tuesday, before jetting to London with a group of officials: "You will get a pleasant surprise when the name of the flag bearer is announced soon. The flag bearer should represent the image of China well. He or she needs to have an impressive record in sports, be tall, handsome and influential."

Most are putting their money on basketball players Yi Jianlian or Wang Zhizhi. Every Chinese flag bearer in the past seven Olympics have come from the national basketball team. China's retired NBA player Yao Ming brandished the flag at the past two Games.

Yi and Wang fit the bill described by Xiao - they enjoy high physical, athletic and national statures, they don't face scheduling conflicts and they would continue the tradition of choosing hoopsters to take the flag.

Yi said: "It would make my sports career more perfect if I had the honor, but the candidate hasn't been decided. The most important thing for me at the moment is to focus on training to enhance my form."

But neither Yi nor Wang can be considered a slam dunk.

Many are also giving odds to Beijing Olympic men's badminton gold medalist Lin Dan.

The 28-year-old is the first and only player to win all nine major titles in world badminton, including the Olympic Games, World Championships and All-England Open.

But the Games' badminton competitions will kick off on the first match day, and the Chinese badminton team's head coach Li Yongbo said Lin might forfeit the honor to ensure he's competitive during the matches.

"It is certainly a great honor for every Chinese athlete to carry the national flag and lead the Chinese delegation to the Olympic stadium (for the Games' opening ceremony)," Li said.

"It's also an honor for the badminton team if Lin takes the role. But it may affect his performance the next day, so I don't want him to do it. It's regrettable. But, as head coach, I must make performance priority No 1."

Tennis superstar Li Na also plays the following day.

Li Na won the French Open last year and became the first player from an Asian country to win a Grand Slam in singles. She would become China's first woman athlete to carry the flag at an Olympic opening ceremony. Media have reported China's tennis chief Sun Jinfang indicated Li Na may skip the opening ceremony to prepare for the matches.

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang is also expected to skip the ceremony. Media report the 2004 Olympic champion will keep training in Germany until early August. The 110m hurdles will start on Aug 7.

Liu shot to fame after winning China's first Olympic gold medal in a men's track and field event at the Athens Games. His homeland expected him to repeat the victory on home soil during the 2008 Beijing Games, but an injury forced his withdrawal.

Concerns persist about the 29-year-old's risk of re-injury, since he pulled out of the Diamond League London Grand Prix final on July 14.

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang, who broke the world record in the 1,500m freestyle at the 2011 World Championship, is another prospect. But the 20-year-old might need more time to become celebrated enough to be honored as the Chinese delegation's flag bearer.

Contact the writer at tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn.

Reuters contributed to the story.

(China Daily 07/25/2012 page11)