ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China won bronze in the men's team event at the 54th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships here on Tuesday, while Japan retained its title.
Japan scored 251.928 points to take gold at Rotterdam Ahoy, ahead of Russia with 250.329 and China with 249.193.
The top three eligible National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the team final earn quota places for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with each qualifying team entitled to send five gymnasts.
China, competing without injured all-around standout Zhang Boheng, improved on its fourth-place finish in qualifying with a lineup of Zou Jingyuan, Lan Xingyu, Yang Haonan, Tian Hao and Li Hongyan.
Zou scored 15.366 points on parallel bars, helping China post the highest team total on the apparatus with 43.366. Lan contributed 14.733 on rings, where China also led the field with 42.766.
Tian added 14.566 on the high bar to keep China in contention. China entered the final rotation just 0.135 points behind Japan, but a total of 39.699 on floor exercise, including Yang's 12.466, left the team in third place.
Led by Olympic all-around champions Daiki Hashimoto and Shinnosuke Oka, Japan secured its eighth world men's team title and second in succession, adding to its team gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Hashimoto scored 14.866 on the high bar in the final rotation, while Fusuke Maeda contributed 14.333 to help Japan seal victory.
Britain led after four rotations but dropped out of the medal places after errors on parallel bars and the high bar, finishing fourth with 247.395.
Switzerland placed fifth with 246.497, followed by the United States with 245.161, the Netherlands with 241.294 and Colombia with 240.093.
The women's team final is scheduled for Wednesday, followed by the men's and women's all-around finals on Thursday and Friday, respectively. The apparatus finals will be held on Saturday and Sunday. ■
