The world’s most thrilling Still Rings Olympics gymnastics rivalry is back! At the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, fans are witnessing another electrifying chapter in the ongoing battle between Japan’s Hashimoto Daiki and China’s Zhang Boheng—two titans who have dominated men’s gymnastics for the past four years.
Table of Contents
Still Rings Olympics Qualifying Standings: Setting the Stage
| Rank | Gymnast | Country | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hashimoto Daiki | Japan | 83.065 | World Champion 2022, 2023 |
| 2 | Noe Seifert | Switzerland | 82.499 | Rising contender |
| 3 | Zhang Boheng | China | 82.331 | World Champion 2021 |
| 4 | Daniel Marinov | AIN | 81.932 | Strong qualifier |
| 5 | Shi Cong | China | 81.398 | Chinese backup |
| 12 | Oka Shinnosuke | Japan | 78.731 | Olympic Champion 2024 |
After two intense days of qualifying in Jakarta, Hashimoto leads the all-around standings with 83.065 points, while Zhang sits third at 82.331, with Switzerland’s Noe Seifert separating them in second place. The stage is perfectly set for Wednesday’s (October 22) all-around final—a showdown gymnastics fans worldwide have been anticipating.
The Rivalry Timeline: A Four-Year Battle for Supremacy
This isn’t just another competition—it’s the latest installment in one of gymnastics’ greatest rivalries:
2021 Worlds (Kitakyushu, Japan): Zhang Boheng claimed his first world all-around title, establishing himself as a global force.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Hashimoto struck gold in the all-around, beginning his reign at the Olympic level.
2022 Worlds (Liverpool, UK): Hashimoto overcame Zhang to win his first world championship title, asserting dominance on home soil for gymnastics.
2023 Worlds (Antwerp, Belgium): Hashimoto defended his crown while Zhang missed the event to focus on the Asian Games, where he secured three gold medals.
Paris 2024 Olympics: In a stunning upset, Japan’s Oka Shinnosuke shocked both rivals by winning gold, with Zhang settling for silver and Hashimoto finishing fourth after an uncharacteristic pommel horse fall.
2025 Worlds (Jakarta, Indonesia): The rivalry resumes with both gymnasts hungry for redemption and glory.
For more thrilling sports rivalries and championship coverage, visit TechnoSports.
Day-by-Day Performance Breakdown
Zhang Boheng’s Qualifying Journey (Monday, October 20)
Zhang exploded out of the gates with a spectacular 14.600 on still rings, finishing his routine with a dynamic double-twisting double layout that electrified the crowd. He followed this with a 14.333 on vault performing a Kasamatsu double twist.
His momentum continued on parallel bars with 14.266 points, showcasing the technical precision China is renowned for. However, disaster struck during his horizontal bar routine when he missed his Cassina catch-and-release move before going the wrong way over the bar, scoring just 12.333—a costly mistake that could prove pivotal in the final.
Zhang regrouped admirably, posting 13.566 on floor exercise and closing with 13.233 on pommel horse, demonstrating the mental toughness that makes him a champion.
Hashimoto Daiki’s Qualifying Journey (Sunday, October 19)
The 24-year-old Hashimoto delivered solid performances on all apparatuses except floor exercise, where he fell on one tumbling pass. Despite this setback, he posted the third-highest score on both vault and high bar, showcasing the consistency that has defined his championship pedigree.
His 83.065 total demonstrates why he’s won back-to-back world titles and remains the gymnast to beat heading into the final.
Olympic Champion Oka Faces Adversity
In a surprising development, reigning Olympic all-around champion Oka Shinnosuke of Japan qualified for the all-around final in 12th place after injury and illness dogged him in the final days leading to the event. This opens the door wider for Zhang and Hashimoto to reclaim their positions atop the gymnastics world.
Oka’s struggles highlight the intense physical demands of elite gymnastics and the narrow margins between triumph and disappointment at the world championship level.
Explore more Olympic sports stories and athlete journeys at TechnoSports.
Individual Apparatus Qualifiers: Paris Medallists Lead the Way
Beyond the all-around battle, individual events were led by stars including Paris 2024 medallists Jake Jarman, Carlos Yulo, and Zou Jingyuan, who lead floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars respectively.
Apparatus Leaders:
- Pommel Horse: Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov topped the standings
- Still Rings: China’s Lan Xingyu leads
- Vault: Carlos Yulo (Philippines)
- Parallel Bars: Zou Jingyuan (China) with a dominant 15.466
- Horizontal Bar: Japan’s Tsunogai Tomoharu
- Floor Exercise: Jake Jarman (Great Britain)
Notably, both Zhang Boheng and Hashimoto Daiki tied for seventh on parallel bars with matching 14.266 scores but were excluded from the final due to two-per-country limitations, as their teammates scored higher.
What Makes This Rivalry Special?
The Zhang-Hashimoto rivalry transcends mere competition scores. It represents:
✨ East Asian Gymnastics Dominance: China and Japan’s continued supremacy in men’s artistic gymnastics
✨ Contrasting Styles: Zhang’s powerful, dynamic approach versus Hashimoto’s technical precision and consistency
✨ Mutual Respect: Despite fierce competition, both athletes demonstrate sportsmanship and admiration for each other’s abilities
✨ Resilience: Both have bounced back from setbacks, making their rivalry even more compelling
The Road to Wednesday’s Final
The men’s all-around final takes center stage on Wednesday, October 22, where Zhang and Hashimoto will once again battle for the title of world’s best. With a gap of just 0.734 points between them after qualifying, every routine, every landing, and every execution score will matter.
Key Questions:
- Can Zhang overcome his horizontal bar struggles?
- Will Hashimoto maintain his consistency across all six apparatuses?
- Can Noe Seifert of Switzerland crash the party and claim his first world title?
- Will Oka recover from illness to defend his Olympic crown?
The all-around final will be broadcast live and available for streaming. Check your local listings and the official FIG Gymnastics website for viewing information.
For comprehensive sports coverage, championship updates, and athlete profiles, bookmark TechnoSports.
What’s at Stake?
For Zhang, victory would mean reclaiming the world title after missing the 2023 championships and settling for Olympic silver in Paris. For Hashimoto, a third consecutive world championship would cement his legacy as one of the greatest all-around gymnasts of his generation.
The winner will not only earn the coveted gold medal but also establish crucial momentum heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where both will be aiming for all-around gold.
FAQs
Q1: What is the history between Zhang Boheng and Hashimoto Daiki’s rivalry?
The rivalry began when Zhang won the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, establishing himself as a global force. Hashimoto, who had won all-around gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, responded by defeating Zhang at the 2022 Worlds in Liverpool and successfully defended his title in 2023 (which Zhang missed to focus on the Asian Games). At Paris 2024, both were shocked when Japan’s Oka Shinnosuke won gold, with Zhang taking silver and Hashimoto finishing fourth after a pommel horse fall. The 2025 Jakarta Worlds represents another chapter in their ongoing battle for supremacy, with Hashimoto leading qualifying at 83.065 and Zhang third at 82.331.
Q2: What were the key performances during qualifying that will impact the all-around final?
Zhang Boheng started exceptionally strong with a 14.600 on still rings (featuring a double-twisting double layout) and 14.333 on vault, but suffered a major setback on horizontal bar where he missed his Cassina catch-and-release and scored only 12.333. Hashimoto Daiki delivered consistently across most apparatuses and posted the third-highest scores on both vault and high bar, despite falling on floor exercise. The 0.734-point gap between them means Zhang must be nearly flawless while Hashimoto needs to maintain his trademark consistency. Additionally, reigning Olympic champion Oka Shinnosuke qualified in 12th place due to injury and illness, potentially opening the door wider for Zhang and Hashimoto.
ts.
