Li Zhikai finished 5th in the pommel horse final of the Nagoya Asian Games and missed the third consecutive championship

Li Zhikai. (Photo by reporter Chen Zhiqu)

[Special Correspondent Wu Mengru/Nagoya Report] Taiwan's "Pommel Horse Prince" Li Zhikai, who is striving for three consecutive championships, today in the Nagoya Asian Games competitive gymnastics men's pommel horse final, due to a flaw in the leg movement, the total score was only 14.333 points, ranking fifth. When interviewed after the game, he also sadly wiped away tears, "I have tried my best, but I am just one step away. I don't know how I will go in the future."

Li Zhikai won the pommel horse event for the second time in a row at the Hangzhou Asian Games. However, due to the change of the scoring standards by the World Gymnastics Federation, a set of movements can only have up to four Thomas pirouettes that he is good at. The rest must use leg pirouettes or choreograph new action combinations. This has become the biggest hurdle that has stuck him in the past two years. Today in the pommel horse final of the Nagoya Asian Games, he missed the podium because of leg flaws.

Li Zhikai said that although today's complete set of Thomas slalom was highly completed and mastered well, the leg synchronization movement was indeed the "most familiar stranger" that he could not overcome. Even though he had worked hard, he still could not master it 100%. "To be honest, I have put in a lot of effort in the past two years, and my coach and family have seen it. This time I also set a goal of at least standing on the podium, but the score has always been there, making it an insurmountable barrier."

The current Asian Games journey is over, and Li Zhikai still has to compete in the World Gymnastics Championships next month. He said that future plans and directions still need to be discussed with the coach, and he has to think carefully. After all, it is not clear how the future rules will be, and he is not sure whether he will compete again in four years.