Impressive Izbasa puts Romania on top in qualifying

PARIS (Reuters) - Sandra Izbasa dazzled on the balance beam and floor exercise to lead Romania to the top of the team standings in qualifying at the women's European gymnastics championships in Clermont-Ferrand on Thursday.

A gold medallist on the floor two years ago, the 17-year-old Izbasa's precise balancing skills on the beam and powerful tumbling on the mat could not be matched as she helped the 2004 Olympic team champions to the top of the leaderboard.

With four months to go before the Beijing Olympics, Romania showed that they will be the team to beat in Saturday's final as they were awarded a combined total of 181.350.

They scored almost five points more than their nearest rivals, former powerhouse Russia. The Russians were hampered by the withdrawal of an ailing Yulia Lozhechko and despite competing with only four gymnasts, they earned 176.425 points.

Last year's all-round champion Vanessa Ferarri failed to hit top gear on Thursday and her stuttering performance pushed Italy -- surprise team champions in 2006 -- into third with 175.450.

Apart from the team final, Ferrari's only chance of landing a medal this week will be on the balance beam. The Italian will not get a chance to defend her floor title as she failed to qualify among the top eight qualifiers.

Britain's Beth Tweddle produced the standout performance of the day when she earned the highest mark awarded on the opening day of the championships for her daring routine on the asymmetric bars.

Her crisp twists and turns between the bars earned her 15.925 and she will now be confident of regaining the title she last won two years ago.

At 32, Oxana Chusovitina has long been used to being the elder stateswoman in gymnastics and she continued to upstage her teenage rivals.