Wei Xiaoyuan of China performs during women's uneven bars final of 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, the UK on November 5, 2022. Photo: VCG

China's Wei Xiaoyuan retained her title on uneven bars at the 51st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, the UK on Saturday.

The 18-year-old prepared a routine with a difficulty score of 6.600 points, the highest in the final and staged a solid performance to finish first with 14.966 points.

American Shilese Jones followed behind with 14.766 points while Olympic champion Nina Derwael of Belgium took the bronze with 14.700 points.

Wei said that she felt she was in good form during warmup and she wasn't too nervous as she has already had the experience of competing at the World Championships in 2019.

"Defending the title will boost my confidence for the whole of the Paris Olympic cycle. I have high hopes of winning gold again in Paris 2024," said Wei.

On the men's rings, Turkish gymnast Adem Asil took the top position with 14.933 points, 0.067 point higher than China's Zou Jingyuan.

Courtney Tulloc brought home a bronze as the British finished with 14.733 points.

"I just can't explain how I feel," said Asil. "I am over the moon. I worked very hard and finally here I am a world champion. I can't believe it."

Zou, the Olympic champion on parallel bars, was also pleased with his performance and his first world championships medal on rings.

"I did what I should have done. Of course, I did not stick my dismount, but I was pleased with myself," said Zou.

Earlier, Giarnni Regini-Moran from Britain clinched the men's floor exercise title with 14.533 points, followed by newly crowned all-around world champion Daiki Hashimoto of Japan with 14.500 points.

Hashimoto's teammate Ryosuke Doi grabbed the bronze medal with 14.266 points.

American Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles made one-two finish in the women's vault final while Rhys McClenaghan became Ireland's first world champion in gymnastics by triumphing on the pommel horse.

Last week at the Gymnastics World Championships, China's men staged a great show to clinch the team title.

China started the final from the pommel horse and were fifth after the first rotation, more than 2.3 points behind Japan who had put themselves forward with a solid performance in the floor exercise.

Tokyo Olympic runners-up Japan suffered several errors. They had to settle for second place with 253.395 points, more than seven points less than they had collected in the qualification. Britain came from behind to finish third with 247.229 points.

The top three teams all booked their places at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Xinhua