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The preparations for this summer's Rio Olympics are about to enter their final stretch, with the Israel delegation to take what will be its close-to-final shape over the upcoming month.
While the Olympic Committee of Israel has yet to set its specific goals for success at the 2016 Games, OCI Secretary General Gili Lustig is already confident Israeli athletes will meet their initial expectations, with just over four months remaining to the Opening Ceremony in Brazil.
"I can say with certainty that we will exceed our goal of sending between 35-40 athletes to Rio," he told The Jerusalem Post. "I'm sure we will have over 40. We will also meet our target that around half of the delegation will be women. We should also have representation in two-to-three new events, which was another of our goals. We will certainly have someone in golf and will hopefully also send mountain bikers, rowers and triathletes."
The focus this week on the Olympic front is on the prestigious Trofeo Princesa Sofia sailing event in Palma de Mallorca.
The identity of Israel's representatives in the men's and women's windsurfing competitions in Rio will be decided following Saturday's medal race in Mallorca, with the event also serving as a final opportunity for Israel's 470 Class women's team and Laser Radial sailor to book their places in Rio.
Shahar Zubari, who won a bronze medal at Beijing 2008 and also represented Israel at London 2012, brought a 22-11.25 lead over rival Nimrod Mashiah to Mallorca, which is the fifth and final test event in the battle between the two.
With 25 points on offer for...
