Raymond Graham, Star Writer

( L - R ) Usain Bolt, Shericka Williams, Michael Frater - file photos

FOLLOWING the completion of the Beijing Olympic Games, most athletes will now turn their attention to this weekend's Golden League meet, as 14 gold medallists, led by triple world record holder Usain Bolt, will descend on Zurich, Germany, this Friday.

While the Jamaican is expected to be the main attraction at the meet, there will be many important clashes, as it could be redemption or revenge for several of the world's top athletes.

Bolt, perhaps now the world's most popular athlete, will line up in the men's 100 metres, which will see six of the sprinters he defeated in the Beijing final try to redeem themselves. Bolt's countryman Asafa Powell will be the only absentee.

Olympic silver and bronze medallists Richard Thompson of Trinidad and the United States's Walter Dix will lead the challenge. The likes of Jamaican Michael Frater, the United States Darvis Patton and fourth-place finisher Churandy Martina of the Netherland Antiles will be hoping to finish higher in what is expected to be another mouth-watering clash.

Also worth watching will be the men's 400m and 400 metres hurdles events. In the flat 400 metres, Olympic champion Lashawn Merrit of the United States, who had a decisive victory over countryman Jeremy Wariner, will be aiming for his fourth win over his rival this season. Jamaican Ricardo Chambers and the Bahamas Chris Brown will also line up in this event, along with Olympic bronze medallist David Neville of the United States.

Major upset

One of the more competitive events on the women's side will be the 100 metres hurdles as the field will include six women, who were in the finals last week in Beijing. World leader Lolo Jones who looked a likely winner before hitting the ninth hurdle in the final, will be aiming for revenge, as her teammate Dawn Harper created a major upset by winning the gold. The Jamaican pair of Delloreen Ennis-London and Brigitte Foster-Hylton will also be looking for a good showing. The field also includes Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan of Australia, bronze medallist Priscilla Lopez-Schliep of Canada and Sweden Susan Kallur who fell in the semi-final.

After dominating the women's 400 metres all season, the United States Sanya Richards once again failed to pull of a win where it mattered most, settling for third in Beijing. Although the Olympic champion Christine Ohuguru of Great Britain will be absent, Richards will have to contend with Jamaica's Shericka Williams, who defeated her to get the silver in Beijing.