Gymnasts warned of Japan's revenge at Asiad

(AFP)
Updated: 2006-11-10 09:32

China's gymnastics coach has warned his all-conquering team against complacency in the face of a Japanese team seeking revenge at next month's Asian Games.

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China collected eight of the 14 gold medals at the world championships in Denmark last month and is taking a virtually unchanged team to the Asian Games in Qatar running from December 1-15.

Japan won five silver and one bronze at the worlds.

"It's very dangerous for our gymnasts to regard themselves as indisputable number one in the Asiad gymnastics competition," Zhang Peiwen told Xinhua news agency.

"Of course we presented a very good performance in Arhus. We beat Olympic champions Japan for the men's team title, and unfortunately Japanese failed to make a single gold. But that might be the very impetus for them to stage a big comeback.

"They have the strength, the technique and the determination to do so, especially on men's team competition and individual all-around."