China will send a delegation of 400 athletes to the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympic Games, a high-ranking sports official said on Wednesday.

In 2012, a contingent of 396 Chinese athletes participated in the Olympics in London and came second behind the United Sates in the medals table. China bagged a total of 88 medals (38 gold, 28 silver and 22 bronze) at the competition.

Like Us on Facebook

"Based on our forecast, China will be represented by about 400 athletes at the Rio Games, competing in some 220 events of 26 sports," Liu Aijie, the deputy director of the competitive sports department of the State General Administration of Sport said at a press conference.

He said that the chances of China qualifying for the rugby and handball competition is looking "very slim."

According to Xinhua, Liu was careful about predicting the country's medal prospects at Rio, but tipped the United States to lead the table once again. The Americans won a total of 103 medals with 46 gold.

"The order of world sports remains much the same, with the US still the No.1 powerhouse while China and Russia battling for the runner-up position," Liu said.

China is hoping to claim most of its gold medals from six sports event where the country usually dominates - badminton, table tennis, diving, gymnastics, weightlifting, and shooting. These sporting disciplines accounted for 36 of the 51 gold medals China won in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and 27 out of the 38 gold medals won at the 2012 London Olympics.

However, Liu said that Chinese athletes are expected to be challenged by Germany, Japan, and Britain as these countries have heavily invested in sports over the past several years.

Liu also reiterated China's determination to ditch its obsession for claiming gold.

"We have made great efforts into resolving the problems that come from putting the winning of gold above all else that distorts the spirit of sports. And we will endeavor to send a clean team to Rio," he said. 

Tagschina, United States, 2016 Rio Olympics, liu aijie, Russia