The SSE Hydro in Glasgow held the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. (Photo : WIkimedia)
China has secured a spot in the women's gymnastics team competition at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after finishing fourth at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on Saturday.
The Chinese team, made up of Chen Siyi, Fan Yilin, Mao Yi, Shang Chunsong, Tan Jiaxin and Wang Yan, got a total of 225.127 points. They placed fourth behind the United States, Russia and Britain.
The top eight teams get to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. The other four teams that qualified are Italy, Japan, Canada and the Netherlands.
Shang Chunsong, who ranked 11th, and Wang Yan, who ranked 19th, qualified for the all-around finals.
"I was only okay on vault but I'm not so satisfied with the other events, especially the beam. I fell from the beam because I was so nervous," said Shang.
Shang was also in the finals of the uneven bars with Fan Yilin.
Wang Yan will compete in vault and beam during the finals.
"We may not be able to beat the United States but we must have the confidence like our men's team in order to perform the best we can in the final," said Shang.
The U.S. team scored a total of 236.611 points. Russia scored a total of 231.437, while Britain scored 227.162.
While seven out of eight nations that qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics were present during the 2012 London Olympics, the Netherlands will be sending a women's team for the first time since 1976.
Those who failed to enter the top eight still have a chance during the Olympic Test Event on April 16-19 in Rio. Brazil, France, Belgium, Germany, Australia, South Korea and Switzerland will compete to take four slots and advance to the Games.
