Oka Shinnosuke leads the way for Japan on opening day of Artistic Gymnastics Worlds
Propelled by Olympic champions Oka Shinnosuke and Hashimoto Daiki, the Japanese men set the standard as competition began at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Saturday in Rotterdam (NED).
A formidable Japan leveraged its superiority on its two best apparatus to amass the day’s highest team total, 254.529 points, giving them a commanding lead over Great Britain at the two-thirds mark of men’s qualification Saturday.
Though strong contenders including the People’s Republic of China, Italy, and Spain are still to come, the standings at the close of competition Saturday made it clear that Japan is in to win, a fact quickly confirmed by superstar Hashimoto.
Asked about what kept him motivated, the reigning three-time World All-Around champion kept things succinct. “Gold medals,” Hashimoto declared, flashing a number one sign.
Overall, the Japanese built themselves a team total of 254.529, three points clear of Great Britain and more than five points ahead of Russia, which competed in an earlier subdivision Saturday afternoon.
Japan’s edge hinged on its strength on Parallel Bars and High Bar, the only two apparatus where their team score surpassed Great Britain’s. But where the Japanese led, they led by a lot, finishing more than a point ahead on Parallel Bars and 1.5 points better than anyone on High Bar. That despite falls on the latter by Hashimoto and Maeda Fusuke, whose combinations of release skills nevertheless delighted the Ahoy Arena crowd.
An uneven performance from the United States landed them in fourth, eight and a half points behind the Japanese and three behind WG2, leaving the Americans plenty to reflect on ahead of Tuesday’s team final.
An eager young team from the Netherlands, fifth, harbors hope of making the eight-team cutoff after an electrifying qualification round that left team members fist-pumping in delight.
Oka rock of the All-Around so far
Oka, 22, gave one of his finest overall performances since the Paris Olympics to lead the All-Around with 85.098, nearly half a point ahead of Hashimoto, who dropped off the High Bar on his Cassina release.
2025 World Junior champion Arsenii Dukhno (WG2) was the best non-Japanese performer in the All-Around, finishing 1.2 behind Oka and recording the highest score of the day on Floor Exercise with 14.700.
Eliminated from the All-Around final by Oka and Hashimoto due to the two-per-country rule, newcomer Kawakami Shohei (JPN) salvaged a lot for Japan on High Bar with 14.600, the day’s top score on the apparatus.
Elsewhere, European champion Illia Kovtun (CRO) was the best on Parallel Bars with 14.900, while Hamlet Manukyan (ARM), Ilia Zaika (WG2), and Jake Jarman (GBR) recorded the best numbers on Pommel Horse, Still Rings, and Vault.
The top eight nations will advance to Monday’s team final, while the best 24 in the All-Around and top eight per apparatus will move on to the individual finals laterin the week. No scores from qualification will carry over to any of the medal rounds.
