TOKYO, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- China picked up its fifth consecutive men's team gold medal Wednesday at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo.
Chinese gymnasts had the highest team scores in the pommel horse and horizontal bar en route to a point total of 275.161. Japan was second at 293.093 and the United States was third, 1-10th of the point behind the Japanese.
China's Zhang Chenglong, the event's defending world champion, and Zou Kai had the best individual scores in the horizontal bar. Teng Haibin had the highest score and Yan Mingyong was fourth in pacing China to the high mark in the pommel horse.
Japan was first in the rings, vault and parallel bars but slipped to sixth in the horizontal bar, giving China the opening to grab the title.
The U.S. team was first in the floor exercise and second in three other disciplines.
China has won the title five consecutive competitions in which the team championships is decided. Going back to 1994, the Chinese have won nine of the last 10 championships. Belarus won in 2001.
The 2011 world championships continue through Sunday. Thursday's schedule calls for the women's all-around final.
