They had been trailing their teammates since April.

But, at the Open 470 European Championships yesterday, sailors Xu Yuanzhen and Terence Koh took over the lead in the race for Singapore's lone Beijing Olympics slot for the men's double-handed dinghy event.

Xu, 23, and Koh, 20, partnered to finish 34th among 91 boats at the week-long, 13-race regatta at Riva del Garda, Italy - the third and final regatta stipulated as Olympic trials.

That result helped them leapfrog their compatriots Roy Tay and Chung Peiming, who had begun the event 17 points ahead with 57 points.

Tay and Chung, both 25, finished 53rd yesterday for a 110-point total, two points adrift of Xu and Koh (108).

Teo Wee Chin, 20, and Benjamin Tan, 22, the third and final pair vying for the Olympic berth, finished 54th yesterday for a 152-point total.

The sailors are given points equal to their final positions in each regatta. They could not be reached for comment.

However, SingaporeSailing president Low Teo Ping said it still was not certain that Xu and Koh will be selected.

'It doesn't all boil down to the best pair winning,' he said. 'The selection panel will still have to review the results and confirm their nominations, then put it to the SingaporeSailing executive committee for confirmation.'

The two pairs earned Singapore its Olympic slot in the 470 Men's class at last year's World Championships.

Each nation, however, is only allowed one boat per class at the Games.

According to SingaporeSailing's selection policy, the points form a basis - but not the only one - for consideration of nominations to the Singapore National Olympic Council.

The selection panel includes SingaporeSailing chief executive officer Andrew Sanders, secretary-general Edwin Low, high performance head Mark Robinson and 1994 Asian Games champion Dr Benedict Tan.

Should they deem the results of the selection events inconclusive, they could call for additional trials.

They could also make their decisions based on results at the 2006 and 2007 Qingdao International Regatta and 2007 and 2008 World Championships, world rankings, and medical and coaches' reports.

Compliance with the Athlete Agreement, which includes aspects such as commitment and discipline, could also be taken into consideration.

So, like Xu and Koh, Laser Radial sailor Lo Manyi, the points leader among the four women vying for the Olympic spot in the single-handed dinghy event, cannot celebrate just yet.

This is despite her having notched a 76-point total after the three stipulated selection regattas, 17 more than second-placed Elizabeth Yin (93).

The latter had won Singapore the Olympic slot - the first woman sailor to do so - in March's Laser Radial World Championship.

Low called the close fight for Olympic slots 'a good problem'.

He said: 'It was never ever a sure thing for any of the sailors. That's why we had the trials in Europe.

'This reflects the depth of our sailors at this high level, and they're pushing each other towards the Olympics.'

Koh Seng Leong, 24, who earned an Olympic slot at February's Laser World Championships, stands a good chance of going to Beijing. He was the only Laser sailor who attended all three stipulated selection regattas.

The selection panel will announce their decisions by July 8. Thereafter, the SNOC will have the final say.