Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    JAKARTA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian athletes have been ready to compete in the Olympic Games in August, eyeing particularly on gold medals in badminton and weight lifting, the country's sport minister Adiyaksa Dault told Xinhua here Tuesday.

    The minister said that more than 30 Indonesian athletes would take part in seven sports during the Games from August 8 to 24.

    "We have been well performed for the Beijing Olympics. Our athletes are ready for the Games," Dault told Xinhua.

    Indonesia has high hopes to win gold medals from badminton at mix-double, he said, adding that it is also possible to grab a gold in weight lifting.

    He said that it was also possible to get gold medals from men's games in badminton. "They said they will struggle as strong as possible," he said.

    "We will only send to Beijing athletes who have the possibility of winning medals," said Dault.

    Rita Subowo, chairperson of Indonesian sports committee (KONI) said that Indonesian athletes had started preparation for the Games since the beginning of this year.

    Up to now, 24 athletes have been qualified to the Games and the total number could be over 30, she said, and they would compete in Badminton, weight lifting, archery, athletic, tennis, canoeing and sailing.