A handful of gold is still disappointing

Gymnastics

Of the "Big Six", the gymnastics team seems most likely to take a tumble following the retirement of several veterans and a lack of multi-talented performers

With the retirements of all-rounders Yang Wei and Li Xiaopeng, the male squad will struggle to handle rising Japan while the women's side also suffered a blow when former leader Cheng Fei crashed out of the team with an injury last month.

China will try to retain its men's and women's team crowns, but can realistically expect to compete for four or five titles this time, about half the nine golds it mined in Beijing.

(China Daily 07/11/2012 page22)