China's star athletes have headed to the Gymnastics World Cup, to be staged on Friday in France.

The World Cup in France will be the first major meeting this year for the Chinese stars, who include Olympic champions Yang Wei and Teng Haibing, and world champion Cheng Fei.

The star gymnasts are expected to test how well they have adapted to the new regulations which went into force this year.

The new rules have cancelled the 10-point ceiling for judging and will, to a large extent, boost the chance for new world records.

(CRI English March 16, 2006)