China's gymnastics head coach Lu Shanzhen has rained on the golden parade his team made of last weekend's World Cup Gymnastics meet in Shanghai, pinpointing September's World Championships as the real challenge.

Lu revealed powerhouses Japan and the US did not send their best gymnasts to the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) event, while other foreign stars like Russian Olympic champion Elena Zamolodchikova were also absent.

"There is nothing to cheer about," downplayed the sober coach after China bagged nine of ten possible gold medals.

"Some of the world's best athletes did not show up while most of them in Shanghai were no challengers at all.

"We should not be too optimistic ahead of world championships."

What did delight Lu, however, was the experience and confidence his young charges gained ahead of the world championships and next year's Beijing Olympics.

"What means more for the team is how they are disciplined during the competitions rather than the gold medal," he said.

"The results are within the expectations and wins at least will help boost youngsters confidence and give them more experiences."

China's vaulting horse world champion and women's team leader Cheng Fei upheld her status with another faultless performance and a win on the balance beam, while teenager Jiang Yuyuan matched her teammate's double in the floor exercise and uneven bars.

Lu singled out the duo for praise and hinted the 15-year-old Jiang was a probable for the yet-to-be-picked squad for the global titles in Germany next month.

"Compared to other young players, Cheng has been a veteran in the national team and proved herself with convincing and stable performances," Lu said.

"And Jiang Yuyuan was so impressive during her world cup debut. Those two athletes' performances make me satisfied most.

"Jiang has got the upper hand during the battle for the world championships spot."

Hanging low

Though Lu confirmed Cheng, who won three titles at last year's world championships in Denmark, as a certain starter in Germany, he said the other seven spots were still undecided.

"Cheng is a key player for the women's squad to defend the team's title," he said.

"She is performing well at vaulting horse and floor exercises and also showing improvements at balance beam.

"But we still need some time to finalize the other seven members of the list."

China won the first women's team event at last year's worlds and topped the gold tally by unexpectedly bagging eight from 14.

The team has deliberately sought a low profile since, in order to ease expectations of a repeat, especially after it was alotted an early-bird draw that will preclude it from taking the performances of competitors into account.

"It is difficult to defend the team title and I hope the media will not be too critical by then," Lu said.

"We received a bad draw. Our team will be the first to compete during the qualifying session, and the time is at 10 am.

"We have no chance to make any adjustment according to our rivals' performances."

Adding to China's potential woes are problems stemming from Cheng's recent growth spurt and the fact age has caught up with some of last year's winners.

"I was in bad form in the past period," Cheng admitted.

"I have grown by five centimeters in height and the physical development has had big influence on my movements.

"Though I have returned (to form) a lot during the world cup, it is still a way from my best form.

"It will be a difficult year for me and I hope I will get through it and back to the best next year."

Team manager Zhang Peiwen revealed that up to three rookies could appear for the women's team in Germany.

Sichuan Province's Feng Zhe bagged two golds in the men's vaulting horse and parallel bars as well as silver on the floor in Shanghai.

Chen Yibing was too good for the field on the rings and Zou Kai scooped a gold on the floor.

China's pommel king Xiao Qin controversially won China's other gold.

Xiao fell while attempting a Thomas Flare, but still claimed gold because the action bore a higher degree of difficulty than other movements.

FIG luminaries described the techniques of one of the Beijing Olympics' hottest gold medal prospects as "textbook actions".

But Lu fears that similar mistakes will cost Xiao during the world championships and Olympic contests after he faltered three times in the past 12 months, falling in both domestic and international competitions.

(China Daily August 1, 2007)