The French Paralympic delegation left here in two groups on Monday for Beijing to attend the 13th Paralympic Games from September 6 to17.

A total of 121 athletes including 39 women will participate in the Beijing Paralympics.

The French group boasts a number of medal hopefuls, especially in track and field and table tennis, the two most represented events in the delegation.

Besides, France has strong contenders in fencing, cycling, powerlifting, judo and swimming, according to French Handisport Federation (FFH).

France ranked the 9th among the 136 participating countries at 2004 Athens Paralympics.

An FFH spokesman told Xinhua that the French delegation aims to win some 60 medals and rank among the top 10 on the medal standing at the Beijing Paralympics.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2008)