CRI听力:Team China Looks for a Rebound at Worlds in Nanning

The 45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championship is now underway in the city of Nanning.

The ten-day event will run until October 12th. CRI's Hai Peng tells us what to watch out for in the tournament.

Pressure is now mounting on the Chinese men's team.

The squad has the daunting task of defending their fifth-straight world title after they bowed out of the Incheon Asian Games with a disappointing third place a week ago.

Fast-rising Britain poses a serious challenge to China.

Their line-up includes 2009 world all-around silver medalist Daniel Keatings, and rising star Max Whitlock, who claimed three titles at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this year.

Ukraine also look menacing after the team won the bronze medal at this year's European championships.

Also worth noting is Chinese Hong Kong, which is competing for the first time in the team event.

Shek Wai Hung, newly-crowned in the men's vault event in South Korea, said he had only a week to practice.

"I didn't prepare well for the team event. I had only practiced vault before the Asiad. I was featured in the pommel horse and the rings qualifying today, but honestly, I only practiced them since I arrived in Nanning from Incheon."

Individually, China's Deng Shudi, Germany's Fabian Hambuechen and Japan's Kohei Uchimura are the serious contenders for the men's all-round title.

Deng won four gold medals at the National Gymnastics Championships earlier this year.

In the women's event,

Stars to watch include Simone Biles and Kyla Ross, both from the US, and China's veteran Yao Jinnan, who was winner of the all-round section at this year's National Championships.

The qualifications will run for four days before the finals unfold next Tuesday.

Only the top 24 all-round gymnasts will advance to next Thursday's all-round final.

And among the 621 athletes competing here, only the top eight gymnasts on each apparatus will advance to next weekend's finals.