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Feng wins first world gymnastics title
GHENT, Belgium (AP) -- Chinese rookie Feng Jing won his first world championships gold medal Thursday, after U.S. leader Sean Townsend fell twice off the high bar, his last apparatus. Veteran Ivan Ivankov of Belarus had a near-perfect high bar routine in the last performance of the final but still missed the gold by the smallest of margins. Bulgaria's Jordan Jovtchev took the bronze, while Townsend finished eighth. The 16-year-old Feng, part of an inexperienced Chinese squad, totaled 56.211 points, edging Ivankov by 0.087. Jovtchev finished third with 56.085. Alexei Bondarenko continued Russia's misery following the squad's seventh place in the team competition, finishing 18th as the only Russian in the final. Feng started out steadily on the rings and vault before making his big move on the parallel bars. He found himself in the lead after adding another great routine on the high bar, but slipped to second after Townsend's routine on parallel bars. Then came the spectacular finish. Townsend fell twice off the high bar, effectively losing a chance to win, while Feng had a steady routine and regained the lead. Ivankov, the only athlete who could pass Feng, had spectacular routine, but it wasn't enough to vault the two-time world champion, who led Belarus to the team title on Wednesday, to the top. Feng, who competed in his first major event, only made the team because top Chinese gymnasts decided to skip the world championships to focus on their nationals next week. China finished fifth in the team competition.
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