By Sportswriters Zhang Rongfeng, Li Pengxiang
DOHA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Xiao Qin, nicknamed
"Pommel King", fell from pommel horse for losing balance and lost the title,
stunning the spectators at the Doha Asian Games on Tuesday.
The top qualifier Xiao fell down after a series of outstanding swaying and Thomas action. But
his left hand slipped on the horse to cost him the most favored gold medal. He
finished only fifth with 14.650 points.
Yang Wei, the second-ranked qualifier on the
apparatus, followed up his teammate to fall from the horse over rounds of swing
to settle with 14.525 points at the seventh.
Hiroyuki Tomita of Japan, Kim Soo Myun of South Korea
and Jo Jong Chol of DPR Korea shared the gold of pommel horse with 15.375
points.
China and DPR Korea had shared the men's pommel horse
crown at the past two Asian Games, but the rising of world champion Xiao Qin
raised the high expectation of the exclusive title for China at the Doha Asiad.
"I just practise a new routine of Thomas at that
moment. I fell down for I did not control the routine well by now," said Xiao.
"I don't feel very good physically at the Games. My
wrist injury has not fully recovered and the fatigue is still there for the
tight training after the world championships in Aarhus, so I think the physical
conditions is also a problem for me.
"The coach told me to wait when I was going to mount
the pommelhorse for the prolonged scoring for the last gymnast. I think I waited
too long there and felt the cool-down of the body," added Xiao.
The 21-year-old Xiao has amazing technique on pommel
horse, possessing the rhythm, balance and fluency needed to excel on this
difficult apparatus. He is reigning world champion and a four-time world
championship medallist on the apparatus, and along with reigning Asian Games
champion Teng Haibin, is considered one of the history's greatest pommel horse
specialist. Teng has been struggling with injury this year and did not come to
Doha.
Before the event, Thailand's pommel horse specialist
Thitipong Sukdee described Xiao's ability on the apparatus as "superman", a tag
for Xiao's consistency on the apparatus. His last costly mistake on pommels was
at the 2003 world championships in Anaheim, United States. Xiao was the favorite
but the unexpected fall cost him any medal this time in Doha as that three years
ago.
"I don't want to attribute my fall to my tiredness,
but I really got a tight schedule of competition. The team and the all-around
exhausted me," said Yang.
"I don't think I was affected by Xiao's mistake,"
said Yang.
