Gymnastics: Japanese Olympians sweep Chunichi Cup apparatus titles

Asian Economic News, Dec 13, 2004

NAGOYA, Dec. 5 Kyodo

The six members of Japan's gold medal-winning Olympic gymnastics team each won an individual apparatus title on the final day of the Chunichi Cup on Sunday.

Hisashi Mizutori posted the day's highest score of 9.800 in the horizontal bar at Nagoya Sports Complex while Hiroyuki Tomita, who won his third straight all-around title on Saturday, topped the field with 9.750 in the rings.

Isao Yoneda received 9.600 points for turning in the best performance in the floor exercise, Naoya Tsukahara won the vault with 9.387 and Daisuke Nakano took home the parallel bars crown with 9.750.

Takehiro Kashima, who fractured his chest bone in October and withdrew after four disciplines in the all-around competition a day earlier, won the pommel horse with 9.775.

Previously, only three Japanese gymnasts have appeared in the Chunichi Cup but the Japan Gymnastics Association decided to let all six medalists compete exceptionally this year for the promotion of the sport.

Also, Kyoko Oshima won the balance beam for the only victory posted by a Japanese gymnast in the women's apparatus finals. Anna Pavlova won the vault and floor exercise while fellow Russian Natalia Ziganshina prevailed in the uneven bars.