Kuala Lumpur, June 24 - National paralympic athletes can start collecting ranking points to enable them to qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

According to Malaysian Paralympic Council's (MPC) International Relations Manager Malini Rajasegaran, the number of sports and the type of sports to be contested would be decided by the International Paralympic Committee.

"Based on MPC's financial capabilities, we will try to send many athletes who have qualified on merit," she told on Wednesday.

Malaysia had earlier only planned to send athletes from athletics, swimming and power lifting to London, she said.

Malini added that paralympic athletes must compete in as many competitions as international major competitions as possible over the next three years to accumulate points and stand a good chance for selection.

They should use the opportunity to compete in the Para Asean Games held in Malaysia in August,Para Games of Asia in Guangzhou, China in 2010 and the next Para Asean Games in 2011, hosted by Indonesia, to collect points, she said. (The End)