The mainland's Zhang Guixia (pictured) will try to complete some unfinished business in Hong Kong, when she takes part in the Standard Chartered Marathon next month.
Zhang - who will head a strong Chinese contingent for this year's event - will line up as one of the favourites and the biggest threat to defending women's champion Alina Ivanova of Russia, who will be looking for a rare Hong Kong double on February 28.
Last year, Zhang failed to join the field for the Standard Chartered New Airport Marathon because of a visa hitch, but this time she is expected to take her place at the start at Chater Road.
The classy Chinese runner, the 1997 Hong Kong-Shenzhen Marathon champion, also won the Beijing Marathon in 1996.
Meanwhile, China's top marathon runner, Zhang Donglin, should pose a threat to defending champion Belay Wolashe in the men's race.
Zhang, who won the 1998 Beijing Marathon, and Wolashe will face stiff opposition from Kenya's Mubarak Hussein, who finished second in last year's race in Hong Kong.
