China's Yang Wei poses during the men's rings final of gymnastics artistic at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 5, 2006. Yang and compatriot Chen Yibing won the title together with a score of 16.575 respectively. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    By Sportswriter Zhang Rongfeng

    DOHA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Walnuts could be the secret ingredient behind Chinese gymnast Yang Wei's dominance, who has already ingathered three gold medals here at the Doha Asian Games.

    Yang Wei, triple champion at the Aarhus world championships last October, won three gold medals in the team, all-around and rings, and probably to win the fourth on parallel bars on Wednesday.

    Yang Yun, Yang Wei's girlfriend, came to Doha with a bag of walnuts, which have all been eaten by Yang Wei and his teammates during the Games.

    "On the first few days, I always come here with some walnuts," said Yang Yun. "And when he and his teammates saw me, they all said that they saw the walnuts coming."

    Former Olympian Yang Yun had tears in her eyes as she spoke of the performances of her boyfriend Yang Wei as he prepared to receive his medal on Tuesday. Yang shared the rings' title with teammate Chen after blundering from the pommel horse.

    Yang, who was in the stands working as a commentator for China's national TV, might have been more nervous than Yang Wei as the competition progressed.

    "I felt extremely nervous when he performed in each apparatus,"said Yang Yun. "Though I was making comments for TV with another commentator, I only said a few words today. My leg was trembling."

    Although she is in Doha for work, Yang is supporting her partner, though she has spent limited time with him as he was always training with the national team.

    "It is all together four times I have seen him including today," said Yang Yun.

    Yang doesn't want to jinx his chances, but is confident Yang Wei can continue to dominate the matches after clinching three gold medals.

    "He has won the gold medal on parallel bars in the world championships in Denmark," said Yang Yun. "So I hope he will win more here at Asiad."