Thai women's 4x100m relay team smiled as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) informed them to prepare for the Beijing Olympics next month.

Only the best 16 can go to Beijing, and the Thai women were 17th in the world.

The luck falls on Thailand because Cuba, who?are ranked one place higher than Thailand, pulled out from the Games and their slot has gone to the Kingdom, Surapong Ariyamongkol, secretary-general of the Amateur Athletic Association of Thailand (AAAT), said on the Bangkok Post newspaper on Tuesday.

He said he had been informed by the IAAF which asked if Thailand wanted to take Cuba's place.

"I don't know the reason behind Cuba's withdrawal," Surapong said. "They might have violated IAAF rules," he said.

The Thai team will comprise Orranut Klomdee, Juthamas Thaworncharoen, Nongnuch Sanrat, Sangwan Jaksunil, Jintara Siangdee and Patcharin Jandang.

Normally six runners are allowed in a relay team but Juthamas has already secured a berth in the 100m.

Thailand's track and field team will have 15 athletes in Beijing with six in the men's 4x100m relay, five in the women's 4x100m relay and one each in women's javelin, women's high jump, heptathon and women's 100m.

Charuek Areerachkaran, secretary-general of the Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT), said that with the addition of the women's 4x100m relay team, the Thai Olympic team will have 50 athletes, 28 team officials and eight other officials.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2008)