July 18, 2009
*revised on July 20, 2009

China edged Russia to win first Japan Cup

Russia and Australia started the womens' team competition on vault and uneven bars respectively. Russia had three strong vaulters; all of them did double twisting Yurchenkos. On unevens, Australia had a mistake by Greely (underrotation after free hip circle with half turn). The second half of the first rotation saw China and Japan on vault and uneven bars respectively. China had two double twisting Yurchenko's with better execution than that of Russians. Japan did clean routines without any mistakes and easily went ahead of Australia.

Australia had to count Mitchell's fall on beam in the second rotation. Mitchell, who won this event at the World Cup Final in Madrid last year, lost her control after a fall on her layout back somersault. Japan had some wobbles but those did not affected their score. China' He Kexin scored 16.250, the highest score of the day, with very clean exercise performing Jaeger-half to mixed grip to another Jaeger; layout Jaeger to Park; Ono turn with a half twist to tucked full-in dismount. Russia got two 15's; Nabieva unveiled her Maloney-half (sole circle on low bar to high bar with flight through handstand with a half turn).

On the third rotation, Japan had beautiful choreography on floor but Tsurumi had a a very low landing on her dismount, so Japan's total score was not as high as it had been in the first two events.. Australia's highlight on floor was Mitchell's routine, who did a very high piked full-in and got over 14. China had mistakes by Zhang Jing, but recovered from that disaster with a strong routine by Xiao Sha, silver medallist at the World Cup Final, who performed a standing arabian front sommie. Russia could maintain its high score to top China on beam; the young Russians led after the third rotation.

Japan could have caught up with Russia or China if they had done their best on vault, but Shintake and Uemura underrotated their one and a half twisting Yurchenkos. They scored, however, enough to beat Australia for a bronze medal.

The gold medal battle between Russia and China was something incredible; China had great routines with amazing music and choreography, but left a space for the Russians to win. Russia, unfortunately, started this rotation with a poor performance from Demencheva (two mistakes on landing). Additionally, the judges found a wrong number on her back. Finally it was discovered that the organizing committee had provided the wrong cloth bib and the team and she were not penalized. The worst thing for the Russians was that they had to wait for this decision for a long time and the rest of their competitors seemingly lost their concentration; even though the two did not make a big mistake, their steps on every landing cost them a precious gold medal by a 0.1 margin. Finally, the ranking was as follows: China, Russia, Japan, and Australia.