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Worlds are just warm-up for 2008, says China
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-15 11:01 The Russians will have several new faces in their squad.
Zamolodchikova | Two promising
16-year-olds, Yulia Lozhechko and Polina Miller, will lead the women's team,
which also includes two gymnasts who competed in Athens, 18-year-old Anna
Pavlova and Yelena Zamolodchikova, now considered a veteran at 23.
Zamolodchikova, who surprised many gymnastics experts by winning gold medals
in the vault and floor exercises at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, has been near
her top form in recent months after battling various injuries for several years.
The men will be led by another newcomer, 20-year-old Sergei Khorokhordin, who
finished fourth in the all-around competition at this year's European
championships in Debrecen, Hungary.The Siberian-born Khorokhordin will be the
only Russian gymnast competing for the men's all-round title in Melbourne.
Veterans Nikolai Kryukov, 27, and Alexander Safoshkin, 28, who won European
bronzes in the pommel horse and rings respectively, will battle on the
individual apparatus."We're going to Melbourne with nothing to lose and a lot to
prove," a confident-looking Khorokhordin said.
Rodionenko, however, refuses to take anything for granted.
"Our prime target is to build the team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics," he
said.
"As far as the world championships go, we have a more modest goal in
Melbourne: we want to show everyone that we're back.
"We want to test ourselves against the best. If we manage to win medals it
will be even better, it'll be a huge boost for our young team ahead of Beijing."
I'm still the best, says Ponor before worlds
BUCHAREST, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Triple Olympic gold medallist Catalina Ponor
says she remains the world's best gymnast despite the misfortunes that have
befallen the sport in Romania over the past year.
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