- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
China announced its 10-member squad for the upcoming 2005 World Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne, Australia.
Zhang Nan will lead a veteran women's team, which includes Olympic teammates Fan Ye and Cheng Fei. All-around standout Zhang Yufei rounds out the team.
The men's team is divided between established stars and newcomers. China's lineup includes only two Olympians, Li Xiaopeng and Xiao Qin. Liang Fuliang will compete in his second world championships, and Chen Yibing, Yan Mingyong and Zhang Hongtao are all making their worlds debut.
Surprisingly, 2001 world champion Feng Jing, who won the all-around at last week's East Asian Games, and Lu Bo, winner of the Chinese National Games in October, were both left off the team.
However, Chinese officials stated they are using the competition to test their less experienced gymnasts.
"Each team has gone through adaptation and reorganization after the [Olympic] Games and is more or less out of form," Gao Jian, head of the Chinese Gymnastics Association, told the press. "So the real competition will kick off next year, when the new rules are formally implemented."
International Gymnast Magazine Related Features
"Fan Favorite" - Fan Ye cover story (May 2005)
"Lucky Charm" - Cheng Fei cover story (January 2005)
"Standout" - Zhang Nan cover story (May 2004)
Zhang Nan on cover photo collage (August/September 2003)
Zhang Nan mini-poster (March 2003)
"Youthful Ambition" – Feng profile (February 2002)
Zhang Nan will lead a veteran women's team, which includes Olympic teammates Fan Ye and Cheng Fei. All-around standout Zhang Yufei rounds out the team.
The men's team is divided between established stars and newcomers. China's lineup includes only two Olympians, Li Xiaopeng and Xiao Qin. Liang Fuliang will compete in his second world championships, and Chen Yibing, Yan Mingyong and Zhang Hongtao are all making their worlds debut.
Surprisingly, 2001 world champion Feng Jing, who won the all-around at last week's East Asian Games, and Lu Bo, winner of the Chinese National Games in October, were both left off the team.
However, Chinese officials stated they are using the competition to test their less experienced gymnasts.
"Each team has gone through adaptation and reorganization after the [Olympic] Games and is more or less out of form," Gao Jian, head of the Chinese Gymnastics Association, told the press. "So the real competition will kick off next year, when the new rules are formally implemented."
International Gymnast Magazine Related Features
"Fan Favorite" - Fan Ye cover story (May 2005)
"Lucky Charm" - Cheng Fei cover story (January 2005)
"Standout" - Zhang Nan cover story (May 2004)
Zhang Nan on cover photo collage (August/September 2003)
Zhang Nan mini-poster (March 2003)
"Youthful Ambition" – Feng profile (February 2002)
