体坛英语新闻：Russian team in London smaller but stronger: sports minister

MOSCOW, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Russian national team heading to the London Olympics will be smaller in numbers but stronger by quality than it was in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said.

"In numbers, we will be a bit smaller, but in quality the team is serious enough. It doesn't yield to that in Beijing and this gives us a ground to say we could perform better," Mutko told Xinhua.

In last week, President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov announced the country will send 436 athletes to the London Olympics, slightly fewer than 467 in Beijing Olympics.

According to Mutko, the national team incorporated athletes specializing in Russia's traditional strengths, including gymnastics, weightlifting and shooting, though the country failed to win any of gold medals in these events in Beijing four years ago.

Moreover, the Russian athletes will compete in tawkwondo for the first time in London, Mutko said.

"That is, our sports program became wider," he said.

Also, the minister admitted that Russian athletes would hardly compete in the "completely Chinese" sports like table tennis, badminton, shooting and diving.

Mutko predicted that the Chinese team would gain some 16 to 18 gold medals in these events, while Russians would "dominate in two or three events only."

"So, in others games we have to fight, to compete fiercely," Mutko said.

On the 2012 medal table, Mutko believes China is able to take the first place in London Olympics if the country could enhance its performance in athletics and swimming

Referring to Russia's target in London, Mutko reiterated that the Russian team faces a task to fight for the third place in the medal table.

However, "if we lose one or two medals and take the fourth place, it will not be a failure. We have to compete with the Games ' host, Britain, for 20 to 30 gold medals," Mutko said.

The London Olympic Games are slated for July 27 to August 12. Russia has set a minimum target of 25 gold medals in London, in a bid to reach a top three place in the medal table.

In 2008 Beijing Olympics, Russians won 23 gold medals for the third place, behind China (51 golds) and the United States (36).