|
 |
Gymnast Zhang Nan of China performs her routine on the beam during the women's team final at the 39th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. China won the title ahead of the US and Russia. [AFP]EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
More pictures |
EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
China claimed their second gold medal of the world gymnastics championships when they won their first women's world team title. EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
Defending champions the United States, led by world champion Chellsie Memmel, had to settle for silver with Russia claiming bronze after the eight-team final.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
The Chinese, bronze medallists at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, pulled ahead after their third rotation of four, the beam, when Zhang Nan and Pang Panpan went 1-2 to carry a 0.850 lead into the final round on floor where Cheng Fei gave the top performance of the night in that discipline.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
Cheng, 18, admitted that the fact they had not been favourites had helped.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
"Before the championship there was a gap between us (and the US)," said Cheng. "This was a good thing as it allowed us to practice without any pressure.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
"With little pressure we were able to give a good performance and pull out all our best techniques."EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
The Chinese scored 182.200 points after the four apparatus with the United States finishing on 181.350 and Russia on 177.325.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
Olympic champions Romania finished fourth with 175.450.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
The Americans, who won the title for the first time at home in Anaheim in 2003, had looked dominant in qualifiers but they struggled from the outset in the finals as they competed in the same group as the Chinese.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
China were in third after the vault behind Romania and the US with Cheng, Zhou Zhuoru, Zhang Nan stepping forward on their landings.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
But they began to make up ground when world silver medallist on uneven bars Memmel fell on her face and Bieger also made errors during that rotation.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
Liukin pulled the US into the lead in the uneven bars with less than a point separating the Americans, Chinese and third-placed Romania.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
And the Chinese surged ahead after Zhang, 20, and Pang, 18, went 1-2 on the beam when Memmel slipped, with China taking a 0.875-point lead into the final round on floor.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
There their only error was a minor one by Zhang on a dance element.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
Taking to the floor last the Americans could not afford to slip-uponly for Bieger to step out of limits.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
Cheng took top marks of the floor (15.650) ahead of Memmel and Pang and it was enough to seal victory.EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
The competition continues Thursday with the men's and women's all-around finals where Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita and Memmel will be defending their respective titles. EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
(Agencies)EzL乐清翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司
|
