125 Cuban athletes qualify for Beijing Olympics

HAVANA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Cuba has so far earned 125 berths in 15 sports for the Beijing Olympic Games and it is expected to earn at least 25 more tickets, a Cuban sports official stated on Thursday.

The Caribbean country has guaranteed its presence in track and field with 34 Olympic slots, baseball (24), women's volleyball (12), wrestling (10) and boxing (9), said Cuba's Sports's Institute, Physical Education and Recreation's (INDER) technical department chief Jorge Luis Llano.

Cuban athletes will also participate in rowing (9), weightlifting (6), diving (5), judo (5), taekwondo (3), shooting (3), rowing (2), archery (1), pentathlon (1) and cycling (1).

Liano said that women's basketball and handball, table tennis and fencing may assure their participation, which adds 19 more Olympic berths.

Cuba has won 179 medals in its Olympic Games history, including65 gold, 53 silver and 52 bronze medals.

In Athens-2004, the Cuban delegation stood 11th overall, with nine gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals.