Zou Jingyuan Retains Parallel Bars Title at 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2023
Hangzhou, China – September 29, 2023 – Zou Jingyuan, the reigning world and Olympic champion in men’s artistic gymnastics, once again showcased his unparalleled talent on the parallel bars at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2023. With a near-flawless routine, Zou secured his status as the Asian Games gold medallist for the second time in a row.
The 25-year-old gymnast displayed grace and precision throughout his routine, leaving the home Chinese crowd in awe as they erupted into loud cheers around the arena. Zou’s execution score of 9.433 was the highest among all eight finalists, emphasizing his exceptional skill and control. His total score of 15.933 mirrored his impressive qualifying result, solidifying his position as the undisputed champion.
Following Zou were the Japanese gymnasts Kitazono Takeru (15.233) and Tanigawa Kakeru (15.066), who claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively. All-around champion Zhang Boheng faced a challenge during his first handstand, which led to adjustments to maintain balance. Although he finished fourth with a score of 14.100, Zhang redeemed himself in the apparatus finals with a remarkable performance on the horizontal bar, securing the gold with a score of 15.100.
In an unexpected turn of events, the men’s vault final saw Olympic champion Shin Jea-hwan of the Republic of Korea struggle and miss out on the podium. Despite a stronger second vault, his average score of 14.149 was insufficient for a medal. The gold medal in the vault event was clinched by Japan’s Wataru Tanigawa, who displayed two impeccable landings to earn an impressive average score of 15.016. Mahdi Olfati of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Muhammad Sharul of Malaysia secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Other notable victories included Japan’s Okamura Mana, who claimed the gold medal in the women’s balance beam, and hosts China, with Zhang Jin capturing the gold in the women’s floor exercise.
The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 continues to deliver extraordinary moments and showcases the incredible talent and dedication of athletes from across Asia. Stay tuned for more updates and thrilling performances from the world of gymnastics.
