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Shinnosuke Oka Named to Japan's World Gymnastics Team With Gold Targets

His pledge to chase team, all-around and apparatus golds signals renewed confidence after an injury-hit world showing last year.

Overview

  • Oka was announced as a member of Japan's men's squad for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October in the Netherlands, local outlets reported on Thursday.
  • At a Tokyo watch-brand ambassador event on Thursday, Oka said he aims to win golds in the team event, the individual all-around and apparatus finals.
  • He framed last year’s medal-less world championships performance as a learning year that was undermined by back pain and vowed to convert that experience into results.
  • Oka enters the international season on strong domestic form, having claimed a third consecutive NHK Cup title this year, a key benchmark in Japan's selection process.
  • His selection and public goals raise expectations for Japan's depth at the October worlds and make his health and consistency the main things to watch as the season progresses.