Japan make it to Tokyo 2020 with the bronze
Vinay Nayudu
Doha
The men's team final of the 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2018 on Monday went down to the wire, and like how!
Perhaps, it doesn't get more closer than this in sport.
With the world title at stake and almost every pair of more than 4,000 eyes fixated on him at the Aspire Dome, Russia's star gymnast Nikita Nagornyy had to perform last on the horizontal bar apparatus to ensure that his team outscored the Chinese.
A hush descended at the arena. And when the 21-year-old made his high bar dismount with finesse, he stood for a while before letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed a job well done.
Nagornyy may have thought that Russia's long wait to gold was finally over. But it wasn't.
When the scores were flashed, it was the Chinese fans who jumped with joy. Their team was declared winners by less than five-hundredths of a point to claim their first major international title in four years.
China's total of 256.634 was just ahead of Russia's 256.585. Nagornyy had scored 13.733, not quite enough for Russia to go past China.
The Japanese took the bronze with 253.744 points.
Later, speaking to the media, a gracious Nagaornyy said,"I think that we were very close and they didn't let us win.
"But, I would like to thank the audience they really cheered me up very well. Especially when I made a mistake on the twist they gave me a lot of adrenalin."
In contrast, China's Xiao Ruoteng, the defending all-around champion, had a fall in the final rotation on the high bar. He overcame the shock and returned to complete the routine. His score of 12.6 including the penalty had given Russia the big chance but Nagornyy couldn't capiltalise.
"I had a fall and I was disappointed. But I picked myself and returned to complete the routine and which eventually helped the team score," said Ruoteng.
"We hadn't won the medal after 2015 and so we were under pressure, but since then a lot of new young players have come into the team it has made us stronger and helped us emerge as champions this time," he added.
Japan took bronze despite a strong challenge from the Americans, meaning a 20th world championship medal for superstar Kohei Uchimara.
The US team finished fourth on 252.994.
Britain's hopes of a medal took a tumble literally when Brinn Bevan took a nasty fall from the high bar.
Although he was able to complete his routine, Britain fell from the bronze medal position as a result and eventually finished fifth.
The 11th world title for China since 1994 earned them automatic spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, along with Russia and Japan.
Japan's big hopes were dashed after Yusuke Tanaka's parallel bars performance. His score of 11.566, left too much to achieve.
Japan, however, rallied to hold the US for a podium finish thanks to their two-time Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura, who served as the anchor in four of the total six events.
For the Chinese, it was Zou Jingyuan's extraordinary parallel bars routine at the fourth rotation where he scored a huge 16.200 to provide the turning point for his team.
Results
MEN’S TEAM
1. China 256.634 points
2. Russia 256.585
3. Japan 253.744
4. USA 251.994
5. Great Britain 248.628
6. Switzerland 244.294
7. Brazil 243.994
8. The Netherlands 240.660
Vinay Nayudu
Doha
The men's team final of the 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2018 on Monday went down to the wire, and like how!
Perhaps, it doesn't get more closer than this in sport.
With the world title at stake and almost every pair of more than 4,000 eyes fixated on him at the Aspire Dome, Russia's star gymnast Nikita Nagornyy had to perform last on the horizontal bar apparatus to ensure that his team outscored the Chinese.
A hush descended at the arena. And when the 21-year-old made his high bar dismount with finesse, he stood for a while before letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed a job well done.
Nagornyy may have thought that Russia's long wait to gold was finally over. But it wasn't.
When the scores were flashed, it was the Chinese fans who jumped with joy. Their team was declared winners by less than five-hundredths of a point to claim their first major international title in four years.
China's total of 256.634 was just ahead of Russia's 256.585. Nagornyy had scored 13.733, not quite enough for Russia to go past China.
The Japanese took the bronze with 253.744 points.
Later, speaking to the media, a gracious Nagaornyy said,"I think that we were very close and they didn't let us win.
"But, I would like to thank the audience they really cheered me up very well. Especially when I made a mistake on the twist they gave me a lot of adrenalin."
In contrast, China's Xiao Ruoteng, the defending all-around champion, had a fall in the final rotation on the high bar. He overcame the shock and returned to complete the routine. His score of 12.6 including the penalty had given Russia the big chance but Nagornyy couldn't capiltalise.
"I had a fall and I was disappointed. But I picked myself and returned to complete the routine and which eventually helped the team score," said Ruoteng.
"We hadn't won the medal after 2015 and so we were under pressure, but since then a lot of new young players have come into the team it has made us stronger and helped us emerge as champions this time," he added.
Japan took bronze despite a strong challenge from the Americans, meaning a 20th world championship medal for superstar Kohei Uchimara.
The US team finished fourth on 252.994.
Britain's hopes of a medal took a tumble literally when Brinn Bevan took a nasty fall from the high bar.
Although he was able to complete his routine, Britain fell from the bronze medal position as a result and eventually finished fifth.
The 11th world title for China since 1994 earned them automatic spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, along with Russia and Japan.
Japan's big hopes were dashed after Yusuke Tanaka's parallel bars performance. His score of 11.566, left too much to achieve.
Japan, however, rallied to hold the US for a podium finish thanks to their two-time Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura, who served as the anchor in four of the total six events.
For the Chinese, it was Zou Jingyuan's extraordinary parallel bars routine at the fourth rotation where he scored a huge 16.200 to provide the turning point for his team.
Results
MEN’S TEAM
1. China 256.634 points
2. Russia 256.585
3. Japan 253.744
4. USA 251.994
5. Great Britain 248.628
6. Switzerland 244.294
7. Brazil 243.994
8. The Netherlands 240.660