Another brutal setback for Chinese gymnastics

Teng forced to withdraw with injury; Guo will be replacement

Just because it's bad for China doesn't mean it's good for Japan.

Japan, which won the team silver at the 2010 and 2011 World Championships behind China, wasn't cheering after Teng Haibin's last-minute withdrawal from the London Games.

Instead, head coach Tomita Hiroyuki asked his athletes to remain focused.

"(I do not care) who is injured and pulls out of the Games. What we should do is focus on the competitions," Hiroyuki said.

Guo Weiyang, member of the 2011 World Championships Team title winner, on his sudden inclusion in the Olympics.

"There are not many differences between Japan, China and the US, so it comes down to eliminating mistakes in the team competition. The Japanese team won the gold medal in Athens in 2004, and it feels the same here."

It was a dramatic turn of events for Teng and his replacement, Guo Weiyang, as their worlds were upended just two days before the opening ceremony.

Teng, the 2004 Olympic pommel horse champion, was forced to withdraw after suffering a pulled muscle in his forearm. Guo, a 2011 World Championship team winner, fell into the vacated slot.

Teng and his teammates were in tears.

Teng wrote on his micro blog that he was grateful for the support and had tried to hold on until the last moment.

China’s Teng Haibin prepares to practice during a training session at the London Olympics on Wednesday. Teng, the 2004 Olympic pommel horse champion, was replaced by Guo Weiyang after he injured his left arm.

"Thank you for your support and encouragement, thank you my brothers for all your comfort, thank you to the leadership for your trust in giving me the opportunity so I can fight for the dream with the last vestige of my strength," he wrote. "Rest assured I will be strong. I will be fuel for my brothers! I will stand together with you, fighting with you!"

Guo wrote one sentence on his own micro blog: "London, I'm coming."

Guo was training in Northern Ireland when he got the news.

He said he has remained in good shape.

"I have been systematically training in Northern Ireland and kept in good form," he said. "I have no problem competing. I will try my best to deliver something for the men's team."

Some former teammates were regretful.

"It's big loss for everyone," said former women's Olympic and world champion Liu Xuan. "I watched him train before they left for London. It should have been his third Olympic Games. It's not easy for him. He and the other veteran athletes shouldered China's gymnastics hopes the past 12 years. Let's give him a big hand."

The loss of Teng is a blow to the Chinese men, who will be in a tough battle to defend their Olympic team competition title. Teng, the 2003 world champion and 2004 Olympic champion on the pommel horse, was expected to contribute strong scores in that event and the parallel bars.

Teng famously performed disastrously during the team finals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where China finished out of the medals. He failed to make the team in 2008, but returned to help China win the 2010 and 2011 Worlds.

According to a public poll on Sohu.com, 53 percent of respondents said they trusted Guo, believing he is as competent as Teng.

Only 22 percent said they looked down on his abilities and are concerned about the team's prospects.

chenxiangfeng@chinadaily.com.cn