Injured gymnast Feng Jing recovers to compete in Japan
( 2003-11-29 14:54) (Xinhua)
Gymnastics world champion Feng Jing, who injured
his neck in the Asian Championships on Tuesday, is confirmed to be fit for an
invitational in Japan next week.
The 18-year-old slipped off the parallel bars in a flipping maneuver on the
last day of the second Asian Gymnastics Championships in Guangzhou, China. He
landed with his head hitting the ground and seemed unable to move himself with
his arms straight up. He was later sent to the hospital after receiving on- spot
treatment by the team doctor.
Huang Yubin, head coach of the Chinese national team, told Xinhua on phone
Saturday that Feng, already back in Beijing, has resumed training since Friday.
"Feng was not seriously injured and is already OK now," Huang said, "He is
set to compete in Japan and preparing for it."
Feng's injury prompted people's sorrowful memory of Sang Lan, who broke her
neck while practicing during the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York and was
paralyzed after that. Huang, however, shrugged off any comparison.
"Feng's case is totally different from Sang," Huang said, "He only strained
the neck muscle."
Feng and Liang Fuliang, who awarded China the parallel bars title after the
accident, are the only Chinese gymnasts to take part in the invitational
starting on Dec. 6, which will be the Chinese team's last tournament this
year.
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