Cheng Fei of China competes during the women's floor event of Gymnastics Artistic at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 6, 2006. Cheng won the gold medal of the event by a score of 15.750. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    Pang gave herself positive comments and settled well with the silver.

    "I did not prepare very well for the Asian Games after the world championships, so I should grading a high mark for my performance," said Pang. "I can say I practiced my routine fluently."

    "I still have not fully recovered from the tiredness of world championships, for I am always slow to refresh completely."

    Kyoko Oshima thinks her bronze is a result of her upgrading.

    "I can smile for the bronze. Compared with the past, I have already made great progress, so I think I should be pleased with it," Oshima commented.

    Cheng missed a medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, finishing fourth. But she catapulted her way to gold at the 2006 world championships. Cheng won by a margin of 0.325 ahead of a competitive field specialist Brazilian floor sensation Daiane Dos Santos. Cheng has also claimed two titles on the world cup circuit this season, in Shanghai (15.400) and Lyon (14.975).

    Cheng qualified for the Asiad final with 15.700, a comfortable 0.400 ahead of teammate Pang Panpan.

    Reigning champions Zhang Nan and Oxana Chusovitina did not defend their title. Zhang did not compete on this apparatus during qualification, while Chusovitina now has German citizenship, pulling out of the Uzbekistan team a few months ago.