Asian Games 2023: Zhang Boheng wins men's all-around gymnastics title
The 2021 world champion from the People's Republic of China claimed gold by holding off Kitazono Takeru of Japan for the top prize in Hangzhou.
Artistic Gymnastics
Call it the class of a world champion.
Zhang Boheng delivered in clinical fashion for the home crowd as the Chinese star won the men's artistic gymnastics all-around title at the Asian Games 2023 on Tuesday (26 September).
The 2021 world champion finished with a score of 89.299 following a flawless afternoon for his first individual gold of the Games, ahead of Japan's Kitazono Takeru (87.032).
The bronze went to Zhang's compatriot Lan Xingyu (84.965).
"I'm very honoured to win the gold medal today,” Zhang said. "I am happy with my result, even if there were some ups and downs during the competition. But (with) the result I'm very happy.
Zhang and Kitazono were only a tenth of a point apart after the floor and pommel horse but Zhang further pried open the gap after the rings.
Kitazono, the 20-year-old who helped his country to a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, did well to stick around through the second half of the rotations but Zhang stayed a step ahead of him at every turn.
He cemented the win on the high bar with the day’s only 15-plus routine (15.200), not even waiting for the official score to flash before beginning to celebrate.
Kitazono tipped his hat to the champ in his first career meeting with Zhang but also said his silver is something he can build on towards Paris 2024.
“He just goes about his business through all six events, just knocking things off one at a time,” Kitazono said of Zhang, who lost his world all-around title to reigning Olympic champion Hashimoto Daiki last year in Liverpool.
“I managed to get through all six events the way I imagined it so I’m happy about that. I was aiming for 87 and I hit that, which I’m also happy about.
“But I felt the difference firsthand between me and the winner. I faced him for the first time, a world champion, and I learned a lot looking ahead to Paris.”
For Zhang, skipping the world championships starting on Saturday in Antwerp to compete in a home Asian Games has been worth is so far.
The rematch against Hashimoto will have to wait but it appears it is definitely not lost on Zhang’s mind.
"Of course the ultimate goal is the Olympics for the team final, as well as the individual all-around,” he said.