Chinese gymnast Hong Yanming made a stunning debut at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta on Friday, claiming gold in the men's pommel horse and delivering China's first top podium finish of the tournament. The 19-year-old tied with Armenia's Mamikon Khachatryan at 14.600 points but secured victory through superior execution scores.
"This gold is only the beginning," said Hong, who initially aimed only to qualify for the finals. "Competing here taught me how to handle pressure at the highest level." His triumph sets the stage for China's growing ambitions in gymnastics ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
China's medal tally grew with Yang Fanyuwei earning bronze in the women's uneven bars (14.500 points), while Lan Xingyu claimed third place in the men's rings (14.500 points). Lan reflected: "This experience will help me improve my mental resilience for future competitions."
The day saw mixed fortunes for Chinese athletes, with Deng Yalan suffering a rare vault mishap that disqualified her from completing the event. Meanwhile, global stars like Algeria's Kaylia Nemour (15.566 points) and Russia's Angelina Melnikova continued to dominate their specialties.
As the championships progress, all eyes remain on emerging talents like Hong Yanming – a rising star embodying China's next generation of Olympic hopefuls.
