North Korea eyes record medal haul
North Korea said Friday it would send 49 athletes to compete in 11 sports in this summer's London Olympics and is seeking a record number of medals. The country "aims to clinch more medals than before in the upcoming London Olympics", the state news agency quoted an unidentified sports expert as saying. The North is pinning its hopes especially on weightlifting and wrestling while women's football is also hopeful, the expert said. The agency said the 35 women and 14 men who had qualified for the Games would also compete in the marathon and table tennis among other sports. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008 the North won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals to finish in 34th place overall. It has competed in eight summer Games and won 41 medals, including 10 golds. The country will also take part in the Paralympics, making its debut at the tournament, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper said last month.
