Gymnastics: Japan ace set for three-peat

IGF gives green light for the world gymnastics championships in Tokyo, despite radiation fears.

TOKYO:

Kohei Uchimura has vowed to make full use of his home advantage as he bids for a record third men’s all-around title in a row when the world gymnastics championships are held in Tokyo in October.

The International Gymnastics Federation on Sunday ruled that there was no reason to relocate the event from Tokyo, despite fears of radiation from a nuclear power plant. Russia was among several countries that had reportedly offered to host the event if it were moved from disaster-hit Japan. In London, Uchimura will aim to become the fourth Japanese to win the men’s all-around Olympic gold medal, or the first in 28 years, while Japan hope to regain the men’s team title from China.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2011.