ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Japan will try to move on from a "tense" opening day of women's competition at the artistic gymnastics world championships as it seeks to secure a berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, team member Aiko Sugihara said Sunday.
The Japan women's team stood provisional third after the third of 10 qualifying subdivisions in Rotterdam, totaling 161.630 points, with the United States leading on 164.529.
The top eight teams will advance to the final, where a podium finish will earn an Olympic ticket.
Defending floor exercise champion Sugihara, who ranked fourth on the apparatus, said the team was "trying too hard to secure top spot" and let the tension get the better of it.
"From the moment we were at the training venue, everyone -- myself included -- was completely tense," said Sugihara, the winner of the women's individual all-around title at the Asian Games last month.
"There are plenty of things to reflect on, so we'll talk it over and focus on delivering the kind of performance we're capable of."
Rina Kishi was provisional third in the individual all-around, while Mana Okamura topped the balance beam standings.
Japan topped the men's team qualification standings at the gymnastics world championships on Saturday.
The Japanese squad of Daiki Hashimoto, Shinnosuke Oka, Shohei Kawakami, Ryosuke Doi and Fusuke Maeda posted a total of 254.529 points across the six apparatuses, with Britain second on 251.460, followed by Russia and China.
Reigning Olympic champion Oka led the individual all-around qualifying with 85.098 points, while Tokyo Olympic champion Hashimoto advanced to the final in second on 84.632.
"For the first time in a while, I managed to complete all six apparatuses without any errors," said Oka, who has been dealing with the effects of a back injury suffered early last month.
"My body and my techniques are finally starting to feel well-aligned. In the team final, every tenth of a point counts, and the outcome will likely come down to the landings.
Japan also qualified multiple gymnasts for apparatus finals. Doi progressed on floor exercise, Hashimoto on pommel horse, Oka on rings, Kawakami on vault, Oka and Hashimoto on parallel bars, and Kawakami and Oka on horizontal bar.
