An official of the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) said Tuesday that 98 athletes of the country have been qualified for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games so far.

The Egyptian athletes will compete in some 17 sports during the Beijing Games, said public relations manager Hassan El Housiny.

According to earlier report, the qualified sports for Egyptian athletes include shooting, athletics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, rowing, Judo, boxing, weight-lifting, artistic gymnastics, taekwondo, equestrian, handball, volleyball, synchronized swimming, archery, wrestling, fencing and open swimming.

EOC President Mounir Sabet told Xinhua in a recent interview that the Egyptian team has the chance to grab some medals in individual items in the Beijing Games, such as boxing, wrestling, shooting, rowing and modern pentathlon.

In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Egypt got five medals including one gold, one silver and three bronzes.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2008)