ROC survive Asian fightback to win team gold

Powerful show: Nikita Nagornyy of the Russian Olympic Committee in action during the floor exercise. — Reuters

TOKYO: Russia ended Asia’s domination of the Olympic gymnastics men’s team event when they survived a fightback from China and Japan at the Tokyo Games to claim the gold medal for the first time in 25 years.

Russia, competing in Tokyo as representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) because the country has been stripped of its flag and anthem for doping offences, posted a winning total of 262.500 points to go top of the podium for the first time since the 1996 Atlanta Games.