Xiao Ruoteng will spearhead China in men’s team final today.
DOHA: With qualifying rounds concluded yesterday at the 48th edition of Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018, stage is set for thrilling finals starting today, with men competing for team title at Aspire Dome.
European champions and Rio Olympic silver medalists, Russia topped the qualification round which took place on the first two days of the Doha Worlds, nevertheless, today’s final offers intriguing action with top 8 eight team eyeing glory.
Out of 45 teams which took part in the men’s team qualifying round, China, Japan, USA, Britain, Brazil, the Netherlands and Switzerland besides Russia advanced to the final.
Russia, starting as favourites today, finished just above China in the qualifying round and is expected to get even tough competition in final as Olympic champions Japan, which finished third in qualifying will be looking to defend their 2015 Glasgow Worlds crown.
Russian ace Nikolai Kuksenkov said his team was ready hoping the team will show a consistent performance.
“It’s good to have younger stars. We have to change some little things, but I think everybody is ready and in shape, and we just need to do our routines. That’s it,” he said.
China, powered by defending world All-around champion Xiao Ruoteng will be a force to reckon with. Ruoteng, who also led the All-around qualifying said his team was targeting a top 3 finish.
“We’re a young team and we don’t expect to win the gold. Maybe the best result is the top three. There are so many strong teams, and the one who performs best in the final can have the gold. We believe in ourselves,” said the Chinese star.
Japan will be hoping to avoid mistake after they struggled in spots in qualifying with four missed routines on Pommel Horse.
The men’s team final will start at 4pm today and will be followed by the women’s team final tomorrow.
US name five-member team Meanwhile, Sam Mikulak will lead a five-member US men’s team in today’s final.
2017 world medalist Yul Moldauer, Akash Modi, Colin Van Wicklen and Alec Yoder are the other members in the Qatar-bound squad that was announced by the USA Gymnastics following a two-day competition held at a selection camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Only Mikulak and Moldauer have World Championships’ experience while the former also has Olympic experience.
The Worlds will feature a team event in addition to competition in the individual all-around and on each apparatus.
Mikulak, who will turn 26 next month, has won every US all-around title since 2013 and finished as high as sixth in the all-around at the 2013 World Championships. This will be his fourth Worlds, though he’s still seeking his first individual medal. He finished just off the podium in fourth place during the high bar competition at the 2016 Olympics and 2013 Worlds.
Moldauer won the 2017 national title in Mikulak’s absence, and finished seventh at last year’s Worlds in Montreal, Canada.
“Beyond blessed and honored to be representing the United States of American in Doha Qatar, for the 2018 World Championships. I just want to say thank you family, coaches, schools and friends/teammates for getting me to where I am,” tweeted Moldauer, whose third-place finish on floor exercise marked the only medal for the men’s team at last year’s edition.
The team also boasts of a solid All-Arounder in Modi, who came sixth at the nationals while the team will be supplemented by Yoder and Van Wicklen, who thrive more on specific events.
Yoder, a 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist, won his first US title this summer on the pommel horse -- a weak event for the US team.
