It took until the last gymnast on the last apparatus for the hosts to clinch victory away from rivals Japan as Zhang Chenglong delivered an incredible performance on the horizontal bars to edge his team to gold.

China began their title defence extremely shakily with a slip by the usually reliable Cheng Ran putting their hopes of a sixth successive gold in jeopardy.

The team rallied on the second and third apparatus as they moved into medal position before clawing to within 0.691 of Japan on the final rotation.

China chipped away at the leaders through precise routines on horizontal bar by Deng Shudi and Lin Chaopan.

For the reigning Olympic champions to seize gold, their last performer of the competition, Zhang Chenglong, needed to deliver a score of 15.867 or higher.

Zhang coolly mounted the apparatus, performed his complex aerial skills and pirouetting elements with precision, and dismounted to roars from the crowd that turned deafening as his score of 15.966 was posted.

It took a superb display by Zhang Chenglong on the horizontal bars for China to seal victory by just 0.100 points at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships ©Getty Images



The host's score of 273.369 points was enough for the win, but only just, as Japan finished with a total of 273.269.

The three-horse battle for bronze was just as intense as that for the lead with defending bronze medallists United States taken right to the wire by Russia and Olympic bronze medallists Great Britain.

The three teams were almost level come the final apparatus, however, the US out-tumbled Great Britain on the floor exercise to grab bronze.

The British team took fourth while a less than perfect pommel horse performance left Russia in fifth.

Competition is due continue tomorrow with the women's team final.

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