Su Bingtian stretches during training on Thursday in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Photo: IC

Chinese athletic stars are set to take center stage at the national trials for the IAAF World Championships on Friday and Saturday with sprinters Su Bingtian and Xie Zhenye leading the pack.

The duo skipped the national championships to compete overseas last month. On Friday night in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, they will vie for the finishing tape at the 100-meter sprint.

Xie, 25, who set a new Asian record of 19.88 seconds in the men's 200 meters at the Diamond League in London last month, is considered the main challenger to 29-year-old Su, who holds an Asian record of 9.91 seconds in 100 meters.

China has three slots for each individual event at the world championships. A new generation of Chinese sprinters including Xu Zhouzheng, Wu Zhiqiang and Liang Jinsheng will try to make an impact at the trials. 

Star hurdler Xie Wenjun, who also won in London, will face a challenge from Shanghai's Zeng Jianhang in the 110-meter hurdles trial.

Chinese long jumpers Wang Jianan, Huang Changzhou, Zhang Yaoguang and Gao Xinglong are expected to invigorate the trial competition, as all have qualified for the worlds but only three will be selected. 

Triple jumpers are also facing strong competition at the trials, as three worlds-qualified jumpers Zhu Yaming, Wu Ruiting and Fang Yaoqing will face challenges from veterans Cao Shuo and Dong Bin, who are close to a qualification finish.

In the women's competition, sprinters Wei Yongli, Liang Xiaojing and Ge Manqi will compete for the top spot after the trio all qualified for the worlds. 

Shot-putter Gong Lijiao is expected to dominate the event as her 19.78-meter finish at the national championships last month is already a world top-three finish this year. Hammer thrower Wang Zheng had a world top-three finish last month with 76.26 meters.

Javelin thrower Lyu Huihui, who renewed her Asian record with a 67.83-­meter finish at the nationals - the best of all female javelin throwers this year, will be the marquee name in the discipline. 

Pole vault queen Li Ling, who eased to the national championship with 4.60 meters, will explore her potential at the trial. She holds the Asian record of 4.72 meters. 

China is expected to send more than 70 athletes to the IAAF World Championships, scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar from September 27 to October 6.