体坛英语新闻：China bags three more golds at gymnastics worlds

LONDON, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- China bagged home three golds at the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships here on Sunday to finish their 2012 Olympics venue trip with a total of six titles.

    With several new faces in the squad after the Beijing Olympic Games, China was still the biggest winner at the World Championships while Romania and the United States each grabbed two golds. Japanese star Kohei Uchimura was crowned in the men's all-around on Thursday and Elizabeth Tweddle excited the home crowd with a gold in the women's floor in the last competition day.

    Three-time Olympic champion Zou Kai shocked the gymnastics worlds with a difficulty score of 7.5 points in the men's high bar, leaving all the other finalists out of pace. The 21-year-old then clinched his first individual world champion title with a score of 16.150 points.

Gold medalist Zou Kai of China (R) celebrates with his coach after performing during the Horizontal Bar final of the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London, Britain, Oct. 18, 2009

"The Olympic gold medals are more impressive, but this world champion title is also important as it's the first time that I won an individual event at the World Championships," said Zou.

    Dutchman Epke Zonderland trailed behind Zou at 15.825 points and Igor Cassina of Italy took the bronze with 15.625 points.

    Even though he was "very satisfied" with his performance in Saturday's floor final, Zou was 0.025 point behind winner Marian Dragulescu, as the 29-year-old Romanian veteran pleased the judges well to earn 15.700 points.

    Dragulescu kept his amazing form in the men's vault on Sunday, claiming his second gold in 16.575 points, followed by his teammate Flavius Koczi and Russian Anton Golotsutskov in 16.337 and 16.287 points respectively.

    World Championships debutant Wang Guanyin performed on the parallel bars as the first competitor among the eight finalists. "I didn't perform well. Almost every move was tight, because I was really nervous," said the 23-year-old Wang.

Gold medalist Wang Guanyin of China celebrates after performing during the Parallel Bars final of the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London, Britain, Oct. 18, 2009.

Wang said he thought as long as he could completed the whole set of movements, he was successful. However, his score of 15.975 points was not surpassed at last. "I have never thought about winning the gold medal. I still couldn't believe it," said Wang.

    Wang's teammate Feng Zhe took the silver in 15.775 points and Kazuhito Kanaka added a bronze for Japan with a result of 15.500 points.

Gold medalist Deng Linlin of China celebrates after the Balance Beam final of the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London, Britain, Oct. 18, 2009

Before Deng's victory, teenager Deng Linlin won the women's beam with "just normal performance". Australian Lauren Mitchell was 0.125 point behind to finish second in 14.875 points and Hong Ivana from the United States was third in 14.550 points.