Austria sending 68 athletes to Rio, Liu Jia as flag bearer

VIENNA (AP) With Dominic Thiem as its most notable absentee, Austria is sending its smallest squad in 40 years to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Without the ninth-ranked tennis player, the Austrian team consists of 37 men and 31 women. In 1976, Austria was represented by just 60 athletes at the Montreal Olympics.

The Austrian Olympic Committee chose Liu Jia as the flag bearer for the Aug. 5 opening ceremony. The Chinese-born table tennis player is set to compete in her fifth Olympics.

The committee vice-president Peter Schroecksnadel says ''we believe we have chances to win medals. The goal is three to five medals.''

Four years ago, Austria failed to win any silverware at the London Games.