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STUTTGART, Germany: The United States women’s team
booked their Olympic berth in style on Sunday, upstaging 2008 Games
hosts China to earn their ticket to Beijing during qualifying at the
world gymnastics championships here.
Powered by Anastasia Liukin,
Shawn Johnson and Alicia Sacramone, the seven-member US team served
notice of its intention to reclaim the world title it lost to China
at Aarhus, Denmark, last year.
The US tallied 245.025 points
after the four apparatus—the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor—tto
finish 3.850 points ahead of China (241.175) in the qualifiers which
were spread over two days.
The Americans outperformed the
Chinese on three of the apparatus, finishing marginally behind on
the uneven bars.
The US, who won the title for the
first time at home in Anaheim in 2003, did not win any gold last
year, finishing second behind China in the team event.
But the Americans will have also
to contend with resurgent two-time Olympic champion Romania which
finished off the podium last year, placing third (239.875) ahead of
Russia (238.000).
China had taken the overnight
lead despite falls from the beam by 2006 triple-gold medalist Cheng
Fei and Xiao Sha.
But the Chinese are on top on
three of the apparatus with Cheng a favorite to defend her vault and
floor titles, and Li Shanshan leading the way on the beam.
Russia’s Ksenia Semenova scored
highest on uneven bars ahead of 2005 world champion Liukin and
defending champion Beth Tweddle of Britain.
Top all-around and apparatus
winners whose countries do not qualify through the team standings
will be given a wild card to Beijing.
--AFP
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