Chinese leading gymnast Li Xiaopeng is ready to challenge legend Li Ning's record of 14 world titles in next month's world cup final in San Paulo.

 

The 25 year-old, long annoyed by foot injury, missed last month' s world championships in Arhus, Denmark, where the Chinese squad steamrollered their rivals to pick up a record eight out of 14 gold medals.

 

"But I feel OK now," Li told Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday. "I recovered well. To catch up with Li Ning's record is my dream and I believe I can make it."

 

He has already had 13 international honors under his belt, and one more gold medal will level him with Chinese gymnastics icon Li Ning.

 

Inspired by teammates' performance in Arhus, Li made an early return from an ankle operation and won a gold medal on parallel bars at the world cup event in Stuttgart, Germany ten days ago.

 

But since that does not count as a world title, he will have to wait until the San Paulo final. The Sydney double Olympic champion even chose to skip next month's Doha Asian Games to prepare for the tournament.

 

In San Paulo, Li will be joined by Veteran Huang Xu, world champion Xiao Qin and Olympic pommel champion Teng Haibin. Chinese women's lineup includes Zhang Nan, world champion Cheng Fei and LiYa.

 

Huang, Teng and Li Ya are also absent from Chinese Asian Games' lineup.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)