LONDON – Japan advanced to the women’s gymnastics team final at the London Olympics on Sunday, while Asuka Teramoto and Rie Tanaka earned places in the all-around individual final.
Japan placed sixth in the qualification round with a total of 170.196 points at North Greenwich Arena and will seek to improve on its fifth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics in Tuesday’s final.
The United States topped the 12-team field with 181.863, followed by Russia and defending champion China. The 2000 and 2004 Olympic champion Romania placed fourth.
Teramoto and national champion Tanaka went through to the all-around final after taking eighth and 27th, respectively, in the individual rankings. Koko Tsurumi, the 2009 world all-around bronze medalist, also qualified for the uneven bars final.
“I had a really good intensity. I’m glad there were no mistakes overall,” said Teramoto. “Eighth place in the individual all-around is like a dream.”