Yang Yilin Wins Chinese Nationals

Despite a fall from beam, Yang Yilin won the all-around title at this weekend's Chinese Nationals, held in the northeastern city of Qingdao. It was the second national championship of the year following last spring's team championships.

According to Sports.Sohu, Yang edged out He Ning for the all-around title, 59.15-59.10. Ranking third was junior Chen Chuyan. Yang later added a bronze medal on bars, where she stumbled on her dismount. He Ning was more successful in the event finals, winning silver medals on both bars and floor.


AA winners, from left to right: He Ning, Yang Yilin, Chen Chuyan. Doesn't Yang look great in that black leo?

Many stars were missing from the championships. There was no sign of Li Shanshan, Zhang Nan, Pang Panpan, Zhou Zhuoru or Sui Lu. Xiao Sha was there and competing, but looked to be suffering from a bad cold. Deng Linlin only competed on beam, Jiang Yuyuan only on floor. Both were successful on their one event. Cheng Fei won vault with two relatively easy vaults and took the bronze on floor after going out of bounds on one of her passes. Judging from the photos of the event, Cheng has been taking it easy since the Olympics. She looked distinctly chubby in Qingdao. Then again, she was rumored to be on a very strict diet prior to the Olympics. Can't blame the girl for easing up a bit afterwards...


Cheng Fei in Qingdao (photos: Sports.Sohu)

Results of the event finals, held October 17-19:
Vault
1. Cheng Fei 15.137
2. Deng Shaojie 14.662
3. (tie) Shi Xiaopeng, Huang Xiaoying 14.400

Uneven bars
1. He Kexin 16.800
2. He Ning
3. Yang Yilin

Balance beam
1. (tie) Deng Linlin, Xiao Sha, Guo Wei 15.700

Floor exercise
1. Jiang Yuyuan 15.425
2. He Ning 15.050
3. Cheng Fei 14.875