Chinese, Romanians split top four in beam at Cottbus World Cup

COTTBUS, Germany, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Romanian gymnasts split the top four places in the in the qualifying round of balance beam in the Cottbus world cup on Friday.

Li Shanshan and Xiao Sha from China snatched the first and fourth places while their Romanian rivals Steliana Nistor and Sandra Izbasa took the second and third.

Li Shanshan, who placed third at the World Championships in Stuttgart with a fall, presented an almost perfect routine this time.

Steliana Nistor, world and European champion at this piece of apparatus, performed a beautiful routine with a highlight of a back somersault with full turn.

The competition between them will be fierce at the final, which is expected to be staged at the weekend.