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Chan Kin-wa

China will send an untried women’s squad to the Rio Games as their team manager insists his young charges meet the minimum age requirement set by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), allaying fears of an underage controversy that emerged at two previous Olympics.
The Chinese squad named five girls and three reserves with Shang Chunsong, the oldest at 20, while teammates, Wang Yan (16), Fan Yilin (16), Mao Yi (19) and Liu Tingting (15) set to make their Olympic debut. Liu Tingting hasn’t competed in any international competition. The reserves are Liu Jinru (15), Luo Huan (16) and Tan Jiaxin (19).
Gymnasts must turn 16 during an Olympic year to be eligible to compete according to FIG rules.
Olympics TV viewers can't believe China's team are old enough to compete
China has long been dogged by allegations of fielding underage gymnasts.

In the 2008 Beijing Games, Chinese gymnasts were involved in an underage scandal when their women’s team lifted the gold medal. It was reported that one member, He Kexin, was 14 at the time.
The FIG launched an investigation, but could not find any evidence of cheating.
However, it did find a member of the China team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics had failed to meet the age criteria and China were stripped of their bronze medal.
Despite her tender age, Fan won the uneven bars at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow last November and also helped the team win silver behind the United States.

WATCH: China's male gymnasts are out to defend their team gold medal
“I don’t think age is a problem for us as many of the Chinese gymnasts usually reach their best when they are 16 or 17,” said Fan, whose world championship win was the first four-way tie for gold with two Russians and an American.
“Many of us start gymnastics at a very young age and although we may lack international exposure compared to athletes from other countries, we are under no pressure and can always mount strong challenges.
“In fact, we can do better and complete more difficult moves compared to the Western gymnasts. I hope to win gold on the uneven bars in Rio and I’ve targeted at least a silver medal in the team event with the United States our strongest opponents.”

Team manager Ye Zhennan said the young team may lack international exposure, but it is more important to maintain a high level of training so that they can achieve a higher score.
He also said all his gymnasts meet the minimum age requirement.
“Young athletes are willing to challenge their opponents and coupled with a high level training, they can do the job properly,” he said.

In the men’s team, only Zhang Chenglong, 27, has taken part in the Olympic Games before as a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. He takes over from 29 year-old Zou Kai, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, who has retired. The four other members, Liu Yang, Lin Chaopan, You Hao and Deng Shudi are all making their Olympic debuts. China also won the team gold in Beijing in 2008.


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Rio 2016 Olympic Games

China insists women's gymnastics team meet age requirements after past controversies

Fr. right: Wang Yan, Shang Chunsong, Tan Jiaxin, Liu Tingting, Luo Huan, Fan Yilin, Mao Yi, Liu Jinyu

Fan Yilin is the most experienced member of the China women’s gymnastics team. Photos: SCMP Pictures

China men's gymnastics team for the Rio Games 2016 are(from far right: Zhou Shixiong, Liu Yang, Lin Chaopan, You Hao, Deng Shudi, Zhang Chenglong, Cheng Ran and Liu Rongbing at a media press call in Beijing on May 25 ahead of the Olympics.

(151101) -- GLASGOW, Nov. 1, 2015 (Xinhua) -- Fan Yilin (L) and Shang Chunsong of China pose after the women's Uneven Bars Final at the 46th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Great Britain on Oct. 31, 2015. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

‘How old are China’s women gymnasts?!’ Youngsters spark suspicions as Olympics TV viewers can’t believe their eyes

The Chinese team celebrate their bronze medal after the women's artistic gymnastics team final in Rio. Photo: AFP

Simone Biles does her floor routine in the women's team competition during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Must credit: Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton

epa05469001 Members of the Chinese Team during the Women's Team Final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Artistic Gymnastics events at the Rio Olympic Arena in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 09 August 2016. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, at the Rio Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S. women's squad captured the gold medal in the team competition. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The Chinese, US and Russian gymnastic teams celebrate with their medals on the podium after the women's team final Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Emmanuel DUNAND

Sport

China

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Gymnastics

Untried team lacking in international exposure chosen for Rio


China will send an untried women’s squad to the Rio Games as their team manager insists his young charges meet the minimum age requirement set by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), allaying fears of an underage controversy that emerged at two previous Olympics.
