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Chinese men's team triumphs at gymnastics worlds

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-22 09:38

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Olympic champions the Chinese men's team edged archrival Japan to top the Artistic Gymnastics Worlds for the fourth time in a row on Thursday.

Team China celebrate with their gold medal after winning the men's team final of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam October 21, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

China took the title with a total score of 274.977 points, 1.228 points higher than the Olympic silver medallists Japan.

Germany grabbed the bronze with 271.252 points.

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"I'm confident that we could win over Japan, so I was rather relaxed in the final," said the team's captain Chen Yibing who contributed 16 points on his strongest apparatus the rings.

China advanced into the final of eight teams with the highest score in qualifications, followed by the Olympic silver medallists Japan with 1.082 points behind.

The top two teams began their duel from the floor exercise as China edged their long-time rival Japan by 0.135 point. However, Yan Mingyong made a serious mistake with one point deduction on the pommel horse, giving Japan the chance to overtake China.

"I just told him it's not a big deal," the team captain revealed how he comforted Yan after the event. "We were stronger in the following events so we could grab back the leading position."

Just as Chen said, China quickly resumed their top place after high-level performances on the rings. Although Yan injured his back on the pommel horse, the defending world champion on rings tried hard to earn 15.6 points in his strongest event.

Since then, China has never given Japan any chance, claiming victory after 2004 Olympic champion Teng Haibin nailing under the high bar.