The Indian community in China has said good luck to Miss India Ami Vashi ahead of Saturday's finale of the Miss World 2003 contest in Sanya, a picturesque city in the tropical island province of Hainan.

"We are proud to be Indian and waiting for you to make us more proud," said R K Singh, president of the Indian Community in Beijing, an organisation for some 300 Indians in the Chinese capital.

"Vashi will tell the world that in addition to beauty and brains, she also possesses wit, wisdom and caring attitude for the people around her. This would be a small bubble from India, a country on the verge of bursting on the international scene," he said.

"I hope that Miss India wins the contest for her beauty and charm… I think that most of India is counting on her and I will be most proud of all if she wins the Miss World title," a young Indian student in Beijing said.

It is the first time that the contest is being held in the Middle Kingdom.

"So far it has been a wonderful experience for me to be with friends from over 100 countries," Vashi told PTI in a telephone interview.

Asked about her preparations, she said, "There is a sense of nervousness. There is always going to be nervousness because of the pressure."

"But we have to perform our best. I am looking forward to the day. I am keeping my fingers crossed. All I can do is try my best and the rest is really up to god," said the 22-year-old financial consultant-turned social worker from Gujarat.

Vashi is already one of the ten most popular contestants, the official Web site of the pageant said this week.

"I am excited and honoured to be part of this contest because there is only one representative from all of India. It is a great honour even to be here," said Vashi, who works for Pratharn, a non-governmental organisation, which provides education to the underprivileged.