Gymnastics-Xiao defends pommel horse title

Xiao Qin maintained a perfect bodyline to swivel his way to the men's pommel horse title on Friday and hand China their fifth gold medal at the world gymnastics championships.

Mounting the pommel with his eyes locked on the apparatus, Xiao rotated with ease and punched his fists up into the air as he nailed his dismount and earned 16.025 to defend his title.

Xiao edged out surprise Australian silver-medallist Prashanth Sellathurai by 0.275 points with American Sasha Artemev settling for bronze.

Since Teng Haibin's success in Anaheim in 2003, Chinese men have won every world and Olympic title on the apparatus.

''There must be someone out there that can win over me,'' Xiao told reporters. ''There are so many other gymnasts who have a lot of potential. I just try to do my best every single time.'' Sellathurai, who also picked up a silver at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, became only the second Australian man to win a world medal following Philippe Rizzo's second-placed finish on the horizontal bar in Ghent in 2001.

''I was not really expecting a medal,'' admitted the 20-year-old from Sydney.

''Before the competition, I was not sure about what chances I would have. I did my routine without chancing anything and I did not expect anything. Before the qualifications, I was not even sure if I could make it to the finals.'' Artemev made up for the United States' miserable run in the men's team and all-round competitions by finally securing a medal with his speedy scissor movements.

''I did not know that I would make it to the final so I am satisfied,'' said U.S. national champion Artemev, who had finished 22nd out 23 competitors in the all-round final on Thursday.

He was also ecstatic at becoming the first American to earn a world pommel horse medal since Kurt Thomas was second in 1979.

''It feels awesome,'' Artemev added. ''It felt great and is certainly a big confidence booster.

''I can always do better but I didn't hold back. I gave it everything I had and I am very happy.'' Reuters AY DB1030

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