Daiki Hashimoto is branded as 'fake champion' and judges are accused of unfair scoring

By Edward Barbacena

Daiki Hashimoto has done it! The 19-year-old Japanese extended his country's winning ways Wednesday at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, capturing Japan's third straight men's gymnastics all-around title as he bags the gold and became the all around champion.

Daiki Hashimoto of Japan performed the top horizontal bar score of the night in the last rotation of the men’s all-around final, allowing him to edge out China’s Xiao Ruoteng and win the gold medal Wednesday night at Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

Hashimoto finished with 88.465 points, to 88.065 for Xiao. Nikita Nagornyy of the Russian Olympic Committee won the bronze with 88.031 points.

The young promising athlete from Japan had surely dominated all events in men's gymnastic and out casting his toughest rival from China - Xiao Ruoteng.

The the victory of Hashimoto is now  being questioned after his performance on the vault with an obvious error on the landing.  Did he really win by the fairness and true spirit of the game?  Photos of  Daiki Hashimoto being out of track is now spreading on line after landing from the vault in which his right foot was completely out of bounds.  Many to their disbeliefs went dismayed after Hashimoto was declared as the all around champion in men's gymnastics.

Though  Hashimoto's right foot went out of bounds on the vault  and had his right foot displaced out of track after landing and Routeng on the other hand made a perfect landing  on the vault, still the two managed to have the same scores of 14.700.  Many were not so happy of the results and accused the Jury of bias judging favoring Hashimoto because he is from the host country.  Hashimoto is now being dubbed and branded as a 'fake champion.'

Chinese state media released a video comparing Hashimoto and Ruoteng"s performances on the vault emphasizing on both landings, apparently there were some big differences, Hashimoto went out of the track and Ruoteng was a perfect one, still they tied up earning 14.700. Hashimoto knew what he did was a big and costly error,   He can be seen  holding his head reacting to it. But after the jury  gave him a 14.700, he smile in disbelief.

For many,  Daiki Hashimoto won as the all around champion with unfair scores from the judges, he will be remembered for this and he will carry the stain for the rest of his career. What a shame for such young and promising athlete.