China's Chen lifts the rings title at gymnastic worlds

Chinese Chen Yibing claimed his first individual world title on the rings Friday and handed China a record sixth gold medal at the Aarhus gymnastics world championships.

Chen, 22, exhibited strength and precision in the power-demanding event to score 16.525 to wrap China's dominance in the penultimate day of the gymnastic worlds.

Chen outpowered Bulgaria's Jordan Jovtchev, twice world champion, by 0.200 of a point and defending champion Yuri van Gelder of Netherlands by 0.225. The all-round champion Yang Wei of China missed the podium after stumbling on his dismount.

"I hoped for the gold everyday, even in my dream. Thank god, I touched it today and I will start everything new from tommorrow," said the 22-year-old.

"In Melbourne, I finished in eighth which hurt me so much and I just think to come back someday after that. I was injured in my shoulder before last year's championships, so I found on form at all. Today, I won the gold finally, but I don't think I am in my peak now. I was a little tired after the all-around competition yesterday and have not fully recovered from that. What I need to do next is to increase the difficulty on rings and keep my stability on dismount if I want to sustain my lead in the apparatus."

"I will improve the difficulty on all my apparatuses for a preparation for the all-around event in the future."

Source: Xinhua