Russia expects 25 gold medals in London

MOSCOW - Russia on Thursday set a minimum target of 25 gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, in a bid to reach a top-three place in the medal table.

"Twenty-five gold medals, I think, is the minimum that will allow us to finish the Olympic Games in London among the world's three strongest sporting powers," National Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov said.

He added that he hoped Russia could gain more gold medals than in 2008 Beijing Olympics.

As of April 19, a total of 294 Russian athletes are qualified to London Olympics and the country's final list would be fixed in June, Zhukov said.

Also on Thursday, Russian Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Vitaly Mutko told reports Russia sees Britain as its main rival in competing in the medal table.

In 2008 Beijing Olympics, Russians won 23 gold medals for the third place, behind China (51 golds) and the United States (36).

The Russia officials are pondering incentives for Olympians, as the athletes are expected to receive some 4 million rubles (some 135,400 U.S. dollars) for each gold medal won.