Russia Edge China in Gymnastics Men's Team QualifyingDefending Olympic champions Russia narrowly beat world championship winners China in the men's team qualifying event of the Sydney Olympics gymnastics competition Saturday.Russia piled up 230.133 points after six routines, with China 229.996 points at second and Ukraine 229.656 the third. The United States, on 229.208 points, Japan, with a 228.081, and Romania, with a 227.680, rounded up the six contenders for men's team gold on September 18. China suffered a major setback in the vault, with both world champion Li Xiaopeng and world cup winner Xiao Junfeng botching their efforts. Neither of them entered the individual finals at the end. Russia's Alexei Nemov had a superb day, qualifying for the all-around final with highest points of 58.361. The dual Olympic gold medalist also advanced into the individual finals of the floor, parallel bars, pommel horse, vault and high bar. China's highest-placed all-around gymnast was Yang Wei, who scored a 57.449. Zheng Lihui placed eighth, going into the all-around final with 57.311 points. |
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