MOSCOW -- Russia is confident that most of its Olympic team will be able to compete in Rio de Janeiro, but its efforts to reinstate banned athletes are a mixed bag.Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko on Friday told local media that 272 of the countrys athletes had been approved by international sports federations, out of an original team of 387, adding that the number could rise.More than 100 Russian athletes have been excluded by sports federations, including a blanket ban on the track and field team and more than 30 rejected under new International Olympic Committee rules.After the World Anti-Doping Agency accused the Russian government of directing a vast doping cover-up, the IOC said it would not allow Russians to compete in Rio if they had previously been banned for doping, were implicated in the alleged cover-up or had not been tested often enough internationally.Most federations have not excluded Russians on the basis of a lack of testing, but rowing and weightlifting are the exceptions.All of Russias weightlifters were banned from the Rio Olympics late on Friday for doping for what the international federation called extremely shocking results that brought the sport into disrepute.The eight competition spots have been offered to other countries.The International Weightlifting Federation said the integrity of the weightlifting sport has been seriously damaged on multiple times and levels by the Russians. It called the punishment an appropriate sanction to preserve the status of the sport.To replace the eight Russian lifters, five countries were offered places in the mens competition -- Belarus, Croatia, El Salvador, Mongolia and Serbia. For the women, Albania, Georgia and Moldova became eligible. Because of the lateness of the decision, the IWF said it was not clear whether all the spots would be filled.World Rowing, meanwhile, has barred 19 Russians, most for insuffient tests. Testing in Russia does not count under IOC rules because of the repeated allegations made against Russias drug testing agency and national lab, both of which have been suspended.An appeal is being prepared against World Rowings decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Russian Rowing Federation head Veniamin But told The Associated Press. That could potentially send the 19 to Rio days before the games start, if the case is heard and approved in time.Theyre now in Portugal, But said. Theyre training and theyre ready to go.World Rowings approval process left just six rowers eligible to compete for Rio, meaning Russia could only compete in one event, the mens four, and meant reserve crews from around the world have rushed to Brazil to compete.There was good news for Russia on Friday when the Russian Taekwondo Union said it had received notification from the World Taekwondo Federation that all three of its entries could compete in Rio.However, Russias best-known track and field athlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva, said she had been refused in her last attempt to make the team for Rio following the blanket ban on Russia in that sport.Isinbayeva had applied again for an individual exemption but was refused by the IAAF, tracks world governing body.Unfortunately they didnt make an exception for me, she wrote on Instagram. They didnt admit me for the Olympics in Rio. 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LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St.Eoin Morgan says he cannot believe the progress England have made in limited-overs cricket after last years World Cup. England reached the semi-finals of the World T20, in which they will play New Zealand on Wednesday, with a 10-run win over Sri Lanka in Delhi.Morgans side have already exceeded their performances at the 50-over World Cup, where they failed to get out of the group. Win World T20 or be forgotten Trevor Bayliss says England must win title or be forgotten And the captain has been surprised at the rapid progress the team has made since their dismal displays at that tournament 12 months ago.Ive been asked the question a couple of times and I cant quite believe where we are in terms of our 20-over cricket and our one-day cricket, he said.The guys weve selected have done outstandingly well and have shown a great attitude playing against very good sides who knock you back. Coming into this tournament we talked about emulating the fashion in which New Zealand played in the World Cup and the aggressive nature in which they went about their game, particularly with the ball. Eoin Morgan Every question that has been asked of us we have given a counter answer or a more aggressive option.Morgan felt the one-day international series against New Zealand last June was vital to the teams transformation, primarily because it helped provide a blueprint for the new aggression in the teams bowling attack.The New Zealand series was very important. Coming into this tournament we talked about emulating the fashion in which they played in the World Cup and the aggressive nature in which they went about their game, particularly with the ball.Their swing bowlers were outstanding and that encourages a positive mind set throughout everything that you do - with the bat it can come more naturally. They did play a key part for us, absolutely.Morgan was not always part of a team that needed to overcome the odds or play catch-up in the shortest format.In 2010 he was a key member of the England side that, albeit briefly, became market leaders by winning the World T20 in the Caribbean.ddddddddddddHe is the sole survivor from that vintage though the man who lifted the trophy, Paul Collingwood, is part of the coaching staff, an omen that has not gone unnoticed in the camp.And, looking around a buoyant dressing room, it is not the only parallel Morgan recognises. Eoin Morgan insists that England arent looking past their World T20 semi-final against New Zealand I see a few actually, he said.The main one would be how relaxed everybody is around the group. How much they are enjoying the challenge of playing international cricket at the moment and their hunger to win.It is all right having fun and enjoying what you are doing but if you dont have that inner drive to want to improve and win games of cricket you are going to stand still for a long time. This side has shown strengths which are similar [to 2010].England (probable): A Hales, J Roy, J Root, E Morgan (capt), J Buttler (wkt), B Stokes, M Ali, C Jordan, D Willey, A Rashid, L Plunkett.New Zealand (possible): M Guptill, K Williamson (capt), C Munro, R Taylor, C Anderson, G Elliott, L Ronchi (wkt), T Southee, M Santner, M McClenaghan, I Sodhi.Watch England take on New Zealand in the semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 from 1.30pm on Wednesday, on Sky Sports 2. 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