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Gymnasts Cheng Fei, Tweedle win gold in Sao Paulo

China's Cheng Fei took gold on vault and Britain's Elizabeth Tweedle won on the uneven bars at the gymnastics World Cup Final in Brazil on Saturday.

Cheng, coming off her second consecutive World Championships title in October in Denmark, scored 15.600 points to beat home crowd favorite Lais Souza of Brazil, who had 15.112. Russia's Elena Zamolodchikova, a former world and Olympic champion in the event, was third with 14.875.

Cheng had a first-place finish on vault at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, earlier this month. She also won the floor exercise at that event.

Tweedle, who became the first British woman to win a world title, scored 16.300 on the uneven bars to edge China's Li Ya, who had 16.225. Ukraine's Dariya Zgoba was third with 15.150.

"I'm very happy with this result, especially being the last event of a very good year for me," Tweedle said.

Russia's Liudmila Ezhova, a silver medalist in the event at the 2002 World Championships, failed to finish her series and ended last.

Brazil's Diego Hypolito won the men's floor exercise, finishing first in the event for the second consecutive time. He had won the World Cup final in 2004 in England.

Hypolito scored 16.050, ahead of Canadians Kyle Shewfelt (15.650) and Brandon O'Neill (15.625). World champion Marian Dragulescu of Romania skipped the event.

"This is perfect, I'm glad I could do it in front of these great fans," Hypolito said.

Another South American to win gold was Venezuelas's Regulo Carmona, who scored 16.300 on rings to beat Ukraine's Olexander Vorobyov (16.250) and Italy's Matteo Angioletti (16.000).

"This is really special, to win it here in Brazil, near home," Carmona said.

China's Xiao Qin won the pommel horse competition with 16.100, beating Hungary's Krisztian Berki (16.025) and countryman Teng Haibin (15.975).

Xiao had won his second straight world title on pommel horse in October in Denmark, and also won the World Cup title in 2004.

The US declined its invitations for the event in Sao Paulo, saying its athletes were recovering from injuries and not in competition shape. The Romanians and some of the Chinese men did not travel to Brazil either.

The World Cup final is one of the sport's most prestigious international competitions.
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