The Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) 2006 China World Cup Gymnastics opened in Shanghai Friday with China setting the standard and producing some spectacular performances throughout the three-day event.

Of yesterday's five finals China won four more golds and three silvers for a combined total of eight gold medals. This was far better than the expectations of the Chinese team.

China's 18-year-old Pang Panpan, nicknamed "Oriental Beauty," claimed the titles for beam (15.600) and floor exercises (14.300). Teammate Li Ya finished second (15.450) in the beam having been affected by injury. And the bronze medal went to Russia's Pavlova Anna (15.400).

The women's floor exercise final was closely fought. With an advantage of 0.100 of a total point China's World Championships winner Cheng Fei outdid Pang Panpan. Cheng had a difficulty score of 6.1 against 5.9 for Pang. And the Chinese duo were followed by Australia's Dria Joura.

Pang Panpan

In the men's vault China's Du Wei came out on top in his debut performance in a global event with a score of 16.325. Canada's Brandon O'Neill (16.112) and Latvia's Sapronenko Evgeni (16.075) were second and third.

However, China's Feng Zhe who topped in qualification finished only fourth due to faltering in a landing against a high difficulty degree of seven.

China's last gold medal was obtained in the parallel bars in which they also secured the silver medal.

Unsatisfied with his performance in the vault Feng Zhe grabbed the parallel bars title with a clear upperhand over second-placed teammate and Olympic champion Teng Haibin. Russia's Gogotov Dmitriy finished third.

Teng Haibin

The only final without a Chinese gymnast was the horizontal bar where Russia's Gogotov Dmitriy (15.400) and Likhovitsky Andrey (15.375) occupied the first and the second spots. And the third place was shared by Belorussia's Tsarevich and Germany's Juckel Robert.

On Saturday China won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The only gold medal that eluded China was in the men's floor exercises.

In the men's events the 2005 pommel horse world champion Xiao Qin took the title with a score of 16.300. Teng Haibin was second and Croatian Robert Seligman third.

China's Chen Yibing cruised to gold on the rings ahead of Russia's Alexander Safoshkin and his countryman Yan Yongming.

The men's floor exercises were the Achilles' heel for the Chinese gymnasts as Du Wei managed only a bronze. The event was won by Brazil's Diego Hypolito with a score of 15.725. Canada's Brandon O'Neill came second.

In the women's competitions China's Cheng Fei chose a fairly simple exercise but still successfully defended her gold medal on the vault.

China's Xiao Tingting won her first gold medal in the uneven bars finishing with six perfect "flying" movements in her international competition debut.

At the close of the FIG 2006 China World Cup Gymnastics in Shanghai the home country was on top of the leader board followed by Russia (1G, 4S, 4B) and Brazil (1G).

Beijing will host another FIG World Cup Gymnastics competition in two years time.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006)