Uchimura dominant All-Around event in Japan Cup 2011
Doha (QAT) AGU office July 8, 2011: This year’s Japan Cup has two strong objets: the last test event for the coming world championships and the one of the big international sport events for Tokyo after the earthquake. Thus the competition will be exciting and encouraging not only the gymnasts but also the people in Tokyo!
Two-time world champion Kohei Uchimura won the all-around title at the Japan Cup at home in Tokyo on Sunday.
Uchimura posted an impressive 93.150 to top China’s Liao Qiuhua (89.500) and Danell Leyva of the United States (89.200).
The Japanese star posted the highest scores on floor exercise, pommel horse, vault, and high bar and tied the top scores on still rings and parallel bars.
Leyva matched Uchimura’s 15.250 on parallel bars, and scored a strong 16.050 on vault. The U.S. silver medalist easily defeated two-time and defending U.S. champion Jonathan Horton, who finished 11th (84.700).
Horton struggled on pommel horse and high bar.
Japan swept the all-around titles with Koko Tsurumi claiming the women’s gold. The 2009 world all-around bronze medalist scored 56.100, just ahead of China’s Sui Lu, who earned 56.000. Sui’s teammate Yao Jinnan claimed bronze (55.300).
Australia’s Lauren Mitchell posted the highest score on balance beam, but finished fourth after a poor performance on uneven bars (12.550).
The Japan Cup was held at the site of the upcoming World Gymnastics Championships in October.
