Japan's Uchimura on track for fourth world gymnastics title

Japanese star Kohei Uchimura kept his bid for an unprecedented fourth men's all-around title on track by dominating qualifying at the world championships here on Tuesday. Olympic champion Uchimura scored 91.924 points to put him ahead of American Sam Mikulak (89.532), compatriot Ryohei Kato (89.474) and China's Lin Chaopan (89.430) with the top 24 advancing to Thursday's final. The 24-year-old Uchimura can also target two other medals this weekend - on the floor where he will defend his title and the high bar. This year's world championships are for all-around and apparatus events only, with no team competition taking place. The big shock was the elimination of Hungary's Krisztian Berki, the Olympic pommel horse champion, who fell off the vault. The three other Olympic champions competing - Brazilian rings specialist Arthur Zanetti, South Korean Yang Hak-seon (vault) and Dutch gymnast Epke Zonderland (high bar) - all eased through. Source: AFP