Silver medalists team China pose during the awarding ceremony for the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
ANTWERP, Belgium, Oct. 3-- China secured the second highest score of 253.794 points to clinch the men's team silver medal here on Tuesday at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
As the defending world champions, China's men's team narrowly made it to the final, ending up in eighth place in a challenging qualification round.
When the pressure mounted to win a medal, Chinese gymnasts exhibited their mettle and competed as true world champions to amass a total of 253.794 points, 1.8 points behind the gold medalists, Japan. The United States claimed the bronze with 252.428 points.
China's Lin Chaopan, who flew in from Hangzhou Asiad three days prior to replace Shi Cong, who was injured in the qualifying rounds, competed in five apparatus in the team final.
China executed a nearly flawless performance, save for the horizontal bar event. Su Weide fell off the bar twice, finishing with only 11.166 points.
"I was motivated by my elder teammates during the competition. Unfortunately, I made mistakes twice," said the 23-year-old. "Perhaps it's because I was not determined enough. Our team might have been the champion had I finished well."
As a substitute in China's team during the 2022 Liverpool World Championships, Su participated in the team final on court for the first time in Antwerp.
"My teammates encouraged and comforted me to look ahead and perform well in floor exercise," said Su. "I need to review the video to see what happened to me, possibly a mentality issue I guess. I still have chances in the horizontal bar final on the last game day. I hope to fight back." ■
Sun Wei (1st R) of China reacts during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Lin Chaopan of China competes on the Parallel Bars during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
You Hao of China competes on the Parallel Bars during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Lin Chaopan of China competes on the Horizontal Bar during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Silver medalists team China attend the awarding ceremony for the Men's Team at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Liu Yang of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Frederick Richard of the United States competes during the Floor Exercise during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huangsong)
Liu Yang of China celebrates after competing on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Bronze medalists team the United States attend the awarding ceremony for the Men's Team at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huangsong)
Team China pose for photos after the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Lin Chaopan of China competes on the Pommel Horse during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Liu Yang of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Silver medalists team China attend the awarding ceremony for the Men's Team at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Silver medalists team China attend the awarding ceremony for during the Men's Team at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Sun Wei of China competes on the Pommel Horse during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
You Hao of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Hashimoto Daiki of Japan competes on the Floor Exercise during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
You Hao of China competes on the Pommel Horse during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Liu Yang of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
You Hao of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Minami Kazuki of Japan competes on the Vault during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Su Weide of China competes on the Floor Exercise during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Su Weide of China competes on the Horizental Bar during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Liu Yang of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Liu Yang of China competes on the Rings during the Men's Team Final at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 3, 2023.
