November 2, 2001	Friday	Shaba’an 15, 1422

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GHENT (Belgium), Nov 1: Andreea Raducan was a gymnast with a mission here Wednesday as she led Olympic champions Romania to an historic fifth consecutive women’s team title at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

The 18-year-old Raducan is now half-way to burying the painful memory of being stripped of her Olympic all-around gold medal in Sydney when she failed a dope test after being given a cold remedy by her team doctor.

Romania won with 110.209 points followed by last year’s runners-up Russia on 109.023 with the United States claiming bronze with 108.514.

Reigning floor routine world champion Raducan produced the top overall performance with 37.187 points putting her in a strong position to succeed compatriot Maria Olaru as world all-around champion Friday.

Romania have now won the title seven times since 1979, second only to the Soviet Union who won eleven team golds but never more than three in a row.

Former world champion Svetlana Khorkina’s blunders cost Russia the world and Olympic crowns in 1999 and 2000 but the 22-year-old redeemed her past faults with a solid performance in the Flanders Sports Arena.—AFP