体坛英语新闻：Uchimura takes all-around title at gymnastics worlds

LONDON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Japanese star Kohei Uchimura made one step further after winning an Olympic silver medal by clinching the men's all-around title at the World Gymnastics Championships here on Thursday.

    The 20-year-old Uchimura took his first world title with a total score of 91.500 points.

    "Last year I didn't think I would have a chance of winning a medal, but after winning the silver medal I was aware of my position and I worked hard knowing that the gold was attainable here," said a seemingly tired Uchimura.

Gold medalist Uchimura Kohei of Japan competes on the horizontal bar during Men's Individual All-Around final of the 41th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London, Britain, Oct. 15, 2009

Uchimura came to London as the hot favorite in the all-around event while China's Olympic champion Yang Wei has retired after the Beijing Olympics and Fabian Hambuechen of Germany withdrew from the competition due to an injury picked up in training.

    He led Tuesday's qualification with 90.925 points and began thefinal with the floor exercise expertly. Although a lackluster performance ranked him sixth among the 24 finalists on parallel bars, the four highest scores he achieved in floor, vault, rings and horizontal bar were enough for him to hit it off. He finished third on pommel.

    "Today's performance wasn't entirely up to my standards, but I tried my best," said Uchimura.

    Daniel Keatings excited the home crowd with an unexpected second finish in 88.925 points, becoming the first British gymnast to win an all-around medal at a world championships.

    "I came here hoping to make the final, but to get the silver medal was a dream come true," the 19-year-old said.

    Russian Yury Ryazanov also grabbed his first world championships medal by finishing third with 88.400 points.        

Gold medalist Uchimura Kohei of Japan competes on the rings during Men's Individual All-Around final of the 41th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London, Britain, Oct. 15, 2009.