China

Chinese gymnasts aim high for London Olympics

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-18 12:52

China's Sui Lu competes in the women's balance beam final during artistic gymnastics at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, November 17, 2010. Sui won gold.  [Photo/Xinhua]

GUANGZHOU - Chinese gymnasts have set their sights on the 2012 Olympic Games in London after winning gold medals in 13 of the 14 events in total at the Asian Games.

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With arch-rivals Japan fielding a second-string squad to Guangzhou, China dominated the artistic gymnastics competiton throughout the week, scooping gold in all six of the women's disclipines and seven of eight in men's to equal their previous best record at the continental multi-sports events - set in 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan.

"I am satisfied with our team's performance overall," said China's head coach Huang Yubin. "But, as the competition is not the world level, we must not get carried away by the results."

"We need to work harder if we want to repeat our success in London 2012," he added.

Japan's Kohei Uchimura, the two-time world championships all-around winner, was absent from the Asian Games, making the Chinese male gymnasts the top contenders in every event by the vault, which was eventually won by South Korea's Yang Hak Seon - albeit with Zhang Chenglong sharing the top prize in the floor exercise with another South Korean Kim Soo-Myun.

Huang tipped Uchimura to the top threat of Chinese male gymnasts in London.

"Nobody on the Chinese team are matchable for Uchimura in the all-around event since Yang Wei retired," said Huang.

Yang quit from the Chinese national team after winning the men's all-around crown and helping China to win the team title at the 2008 Olympics.

Yet, hopes are high thanks to a mixture of experience and young talents in the Chinese squad.

Teng Haibin, who made an impressive comeback at last month's world championships in Rotterdam, winning three gold medals at the Games, including the men's all-around.

The 25-year-old vetern's mistake cost China's gold chance in the Athens Olympics. Despite winning the pommel horse gold in Athens, he had been left out of the national team and failed to compete in major international events for six years.

"It's a new start," Teng said. "The gold gave me much confidence to look to next year's world championships and 2012 Olympics."

Zhang Chenglong is considered a promising star. The 21-year-old rose to stardom at Rotterdam when he won the horizontal bar in his world championships debut. He successfully claimed the Asiad title in this discipline.

"I want to develop as an all-around gymnast and preapre myself for the 2012 Games," he said of his plans after the Asian Games.

Feng Zhe, a parallel bars specialist, also has an eye on the all-around.

"Being an all-around gymnast is the biggest dream for every gymnast, and I am no exception. Now I am trying to reach that milestone," said Feng.

On the women's side, a gymnast to watch in future is Sui Lu, the most decorated athlete at the Asian Games with four gold medals, which came from team event, the all-around, the floor and the beam.

The 18-year-old has shown consistent form throughout the Asian Games.

"These competitions have helped me learn to control myself better, especially on the balance beam, and to become less ruffled, " said Sui. "I think that will help me in future competitions to stay calm and less jittery."

"I hope I can achieve greater success at the London Olympics."