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Worlds are just warm-up for 2008, says China
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-15 11:01
"Sometimes on weekends, if I ask for permission, I can go out and do some
shopping," said 17-year-old Fan, her wide smile revealing a mouth full of
braces.
VAULTING AHEAD
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Chen Yixin and her trainer Wang Qunce
practice at Beijing's National Gymnastics Centre November 9, 2005.
[Reuters]
| The 2003 balance beam world
champion has recovered from a lowly seventh at Athens with some strong
performances this year.
"My goal at the worlds is to keep up my performance level and not make any
big mistakes," Fan said. "I also want to improve my confidence."
While the men's squad for Melbourne has four new, relatively untested
members, the women's side represents China's best.
Fan's main support will come from Zhang Nan, all-around bronze medallist at
Athens and China's most experienced woman at the age of 19, and the
multi-talented Cheng Fei.
Cheng should be a contender in the floor exercises and is planning to show
the world a new vault move worth a possible full 10 points, a first for China.
The Chinese have a reputation for strength on the balance beam and asymmetric
bars but weakness on the vault. Cheng could be the one to break that tradition
and usher in a new era in which China's gymnasts can go for gold in all the
women's events.
"Nobody has ever done this move before," coach Lu said.
"Cheng Fei tried it at the National Games but she didn't pull it off. She'll
try it again."
Young Russians have plenty to prove
MOSCOW, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Russia's young team have much to prove at next
week's world gymnastics championships as they try to rebound from a
disappointing showing at last year's Olympics.
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