Japan's Olympic and world champion Daiki Hashimoto ranked third in men's all-around qualifying at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships ©Getty Images

Defending champion Daiki Hashimoto has been chosen as one of Japan's two representatives to advance to the men's all-around final at the International Gymnastics Federation Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, even though he ranked third among his compatriots in qualifying.

Olympic gold medallist Hashimoto scored 85.432 in the all-around qualification round at Antwerp Sportpaleis, top scoring with 15.000 on the horizontal bar but brushing the pommel horse which contributed to him ranking 40th with 13.266 and also producing an error on the vault.

World Championships debutant Kenta Chiba was the top scorer with 85.799 and Olympic pommel horse bronze medallist Kazuma Kaya was second with 85.598.

Only two athletes per nation are able to advance to the individual all-around final, and Japanese coaching staff chose Hashimoto over Kaya to join Chiba.

Commonwealth Games champion Jake Jarman of Britain placed fourth with 84.031, followed by compatriot James Hill with 83.631.

Japan lead the team standings with 258.228, followed by the United States with 254.628 and Britain with 254.193.

Olympic champion Max Whitlock topped the pommel horse standings and helped Britain to rank third in team qualifying ©Getty Images
Olympic champion Max Whitlock topped the pommel horse standings and helped Britain to rank third in team qualifying ©Getty Images

Defending champions China are fifth with 248.163.

China, Japan and Britain have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through last year's World Championships in the British city of Liverpool, and the top-ranked nine teams excluding them in Antwerp are due to join them.

Olympic champions Artem Dolgopyat of Israel with 15.100 in the floor exercise, Max Whitlock of Britain with 15.266 on the pommel horse and Liu Yang of China with 15.200 on the rings top scored on the first day of qualifying.

Reigning world champion Artur Davtyan of Armenia led on the vault with 15.033, and Olympic and world silver medallist Lukas Dauser of Germany with 15.300 on the parallel bars.

The final two subdivisions in men's qualification are due to compete tomorrow in the Belgian city of Antwerp, followed by the first three subdivisions in women's qualifying.