China
China 1st, Japan 2nd in men's qualifications of gymnastics worlds
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-20 16:18
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ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - As expected no team could come near to China and Japan in the remainder of the final qualification for men on Tuesday at the 42nd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam.
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The 24 best teams also qualified for the 2011 World Championships and among them hosts the Netherlands in 17th position.
Germany coach Andreas Hirsch saw his team finish fifth after the tenth subdivision. He said: "We had a bad start but we recovered fantastically. They showed mental strength. Japan and China will compete for gold in the final, but I think USA, Britain, Germany and Korea all have chances to capture a bronze medal."
In the individual overall standings Japan's Kohei Uchimura kept his first rank. With a total score of 92.231 points he was far ahead of the rest. Germany's Philipp Boy (90.156) took a surprising second spot after the tenth and final subdivision. He pushed China's Lu Bo (89.639) and American Jonathan Horton (89.598) to third and fourth place respectively. Teng Haibin finished ninth and will be the second Chinese in the final.
"For me it wasn't a big surprise," the 23-year old German Boy said. "I Knew that I am able to get 90.000 plus points. I am very happy that my allround competition was almost perfect, with only a few small mistakes. Maybe Friday I can do even better and get 91.000 points. I am trying to do the same as usual and will not try to do different things. If I make no mistake it will be OK."
Uchimura, who even wasn't fully fit because of his shoulder injury, seemed untouchable in the qualification. "I don't think Uchimura is beatable by me," Boy confirmed. "Maybe in the next years, but he is from a different level. His gymnastics is so beautiful, he is like an idol to me."
The best 24 gymnasts qualified for the individual allround final, while the apparatus finals will each contain the best eight athletes.