iMSPORT.TV – Jakarta World Championships: Kaylia Nemour Dominates Uneven Bars, Sugihara Leads All-Around. Asked which athlete they were most looking forward to watching at this week’s World Championships in Jakarta (INA), an informal survey of competitors yielded a single name more than any other: Kaylia Nemour (ALG). Specifically, Kaylia Nemour on Uneven Bars.
The 18-year-old lived up to the hype by scoring 15.533 points on her signature apparatus as the curtain rose on the women’s competition Monday at the Indonesia Arena. And even if other parts of the Olympic champion’s qualification evening didn’t go exactly as planned, she can check one goal off her list.
“I showed that I’m still here,” said Nemour, who is competing at her second World Championships after a tumultuous year that has included several high-profile competitions, a coaching change, and a move across France.
Nemour showcased her brilliance on Uneven Bars with a routine full of intricate connections, as well as a skill that’s so unique it is named for her in the Women’s Gymnastics’s Code of Points.
Sure, she makes it look easy, Nemour says, but it isn’t. That was on display on Vault and Balance Beam, where she recorded uncharacteristic falls. The double-twisting Yurchenko Vault has always been a challenge, but on Beam Nemour dropped off on a wolf turn, an element she normally handles easily. The 13.233 she received will likely take her out of contention for the Beam final.
“I’m a bit disappointed with the last apparatus [Beam]. I had a goal and worked very hard for it and to fall on an element like that is hard,” Nemour commented afterward.
“I think I’m going to rest for a bit. I did a weeklong training camp in China and then I came here and I tried to rest but I trained all week. I think I need to eat well, sleep well, and rest in order to come back again stronger.”
Jakarta World Championships: Kaylia Nemour Dominates Uneven Bars, Sugihara Leads All-Around
Even with the errors, Nemour emerged with a total of 53.865 points, the second highest All-Around total of any gymnast in the first three subdivisions. Only Japanese veteran Sugihara Aiko (JPN) did better with 54.099.
Sugihara, a two-time Olympian whose last World Championships were in 2019, made the most of her opportunities with consistent performances across the board. Her best score of the day was 13.900 for her one-and-a-half-twisting Yurchenko vault, but her most memorable presentation was on Floor Exercise, where she scored 13.366 for a commanding performance to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The routine that tells the story of her life, specifically of her struggles in recent years to remain at the top of her sport.
“It’s been a long time since I competed at the World Championships, and being back in the senior division made me quite nervous, but seeing the Japanese flag and having my family here supporting me gave me great strength and allowed me to enjoy my performance,” Sugihara said.
“However, I made a mistake on the landing in my strongest event, the Floor Exercise, so I still feel frustrated and see room for improvement.” Kishi Rina (JPN) posted the highest score on Floor with 13.566.
Canadians Ellie Black and Lia-Monica Fontaine were the best on Balance Beam and Vault, scoring 13.466 and 14.099, respectively. Sixteen-year-old Fontaine showed great amplitude on a double-twisting Yurchenko and a Lopez to finish ahead of European champion Karina Schoenmaier (GER), who showed the same two vaults.
Black nailed every element in her Balance Beam routine, including the backward acrobatic series that she said became problematic earlier this season.
“I was really proud of myself just being here, being at Worlds, and overcoming some obstacles this year, and being able to just show up and try and enjoy the moment and have some good performances,” said Black.
Both Sugihara and Nemour are likely to get another chance for the improvement they seek in Thursday’s All-Around final. Nemour is almost certain to qualify for the Uneven Bars final as well. The rest remains up in the air, though it won’t be for long: Seven more subdivisions will compete Tuesday, closing out the qualification rounds.
Hashimoto remains in front as men’s qualification ends
Hashimoto Daiki (JPN) held onto his day one lead as Men’s All-Around qualification concluded Monday, though Noe Seifert (SUI) and Zhang Boheng (CHN) are certainly within striking distance.
Paris Olympic All-Around silver medallist Zhang was on course to overtake Tokyo Olympic champion Hashimoto before coming off the Horizontal Bar midway through the final subdivision. The results set up a new showdown between old rivals who battled it out for the World titles in 2021 and 2022.
The first time, Zhang upset newly crowned Olympic champion Hashimoto on his home turf. Hashimoto came back and won it in 2022. Between them now is Switzerland’s Seifert, who is capable of producing competitive scores across all six apparatus.
China was the only nation to have a dramatic impact on the standings established during the first day of men’s qualification Sunday. Zou Jingyuan (CHN) was his usual self on Parallel Bars to take the lead with 15.466. Lan Xingyu (CHN) did likewise on Still Rings with 14.766.
Source : gymnastics.sport
(amr/adm)
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