Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan looks to have done enough to qualify for the pommel horse final at the World Gymnastics Championships – but he’ll have to wait until Monday evening to find out.
McClenaghan scored 15.200 in his preferred event on Sunday in the first of eight qualifying rounds. China’s Xiao Ruoteng won the title last year with a score of 15.166 so it should be enough to see him through, though he won’t know for sure until after qualifying is over.
The top eight gymnasts will go through to Saturday’s final and McClenaghan is one of the favourites for gold in Stuttgart.
Last year he won the European title as well as the Commonwealth Games crown. However a shoulder injury put him out for six months and cost him any chance of a medal at the 2018 worlds
To secure Olympic qualifications at these championships McClenaghan must reach the final, where there are three places available for competitors from counties not qualified for Tokyo 2020 in the team event.
