China’s team celebrate on the podium during the awarding ceremony after winning gold in the Men’s Team Final at the 40th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, a city of southwest Germany, Sept. 6, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
STUTTGART, Germany, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) — Reigning champions China beat Japan to defend men’s team title at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on Thursday.
The expected close showdown turned out to be a lopsided competition in which China led Japan from start to end, accumulating a total of 281.900 points for its third straight gold medal at a championships.
The Olympic Champions were left a far second in 277.025 and the bronze medal went to hosts Germany in 273.525, who delivered performance just as strong as in the qualifications once more to the home crowd ovation.
“It’s the fifth time I’ve won a team world title and this competition has strengthened team spirit,” said Chinese leading character Yang Wei, achieving his seventh gold for China including individual titles.
“This competition has been good for us. We now know the mistakes we have to correct and where we are strong in order to achieve gold in Beijing.
“I know that they (Japan) are stronger in the high bar, but we’ll work on it,” the 27-year-old added.
It is China’s eighth world title, also the seventh in the last eight world championships, as they are poised to recapture the Olympic gold they lost to Japan in Athens.
Before the final rotation of high bar, China had extended the edge to 6.1 points over Japan. Although Japanese high bar specialists concluded their presentation with dazzling turns and somersaults, it was just too late for them to stage a comeback miracle.