The government, through the Youth and Sports Ministry is targetting at least 22 athletes under the Podium Programme to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games this year.

Its minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it involves several sport events such as badminton, archery, swimming, gymnastics, golf, athletics and few others that are still in the qualifying stages.

He said his ministry is currently focusing on increasing the number of national athletes athletes qualified for the Rio Olympics apart from the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.

"Preparations are being made by the National Sports Institute (ISN) in the scientific and medical aspects of sports in preparing the athletes to the Olympics in Rio.

"However, we do not target the number of medals, the main goal is to ensure an increase in the number of athletes who qualify, at least 22 athletes through the Podium Program," he said when answering a question by Jerlun MP (BN) Datuk Othman Aziz.

Othman was asking about the preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the effectiveness of the Podium Programme for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The programme was launched in February this year to increase the number of athletes qualified for the Olympics.

However, Khairy said a more precise measurement on the effectiveness of the programme would be the Tokyo Olympics.

"Podium Program emphasizes on a more professional management training, more comprehensive support service, more efficient care of the athletes' welfare and latest innovation and trend for potential athletes besides empowering other sport events," he said.

Khairy said currently 12 athletes have been confirmed to qualified for the Rio Games.

The athletes include Pandelela Rinong, Cheong Jun Hoong, Wendy Ng Yan Yee, Ooi Tze Liang, Nur Dhabitah Sabri for diving; Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa for cycling; Jonathan Wong (shooting); Welson Sin for swimming); Khairul Anuar Mohamad for archery and Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy and Nur Shazrin for sailing.