During Ling's dream of becoming Miss Etiquette for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was dashed because she was only 16 years old at the time.

Ding Ling is a Miss Etiquette for the Asian Games.

She kept the hope alive, however, and on Saturday (November 13) she will escort VIPs to present the very first gold medal for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou.

"I feel very excited and a bit nervous," said Ding, from Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, who will serve as one of 380 etiquette angels at 476 award ceremonies during the Asian Games (November 12 to 27) and Asian Para Games (December 12 to 19).

Aged between 17 and 25, the etiquette angels come mostly from universities in 90 cities with a few others being stewardesses, translators and white-collar workers.

Between 168cm and 178cm tall, they were chosen not only for their appearance but also for their spirit of teamwork, discipline and temperament, according to the organising committee of the Games.