LONDON, July 27: Japan’s Kohei Uchimura has vowed to “go on the rampage” and break the Chinese stranglehold on men’s Olympic gymnastics when the Games competition gets underway here on Saturday.

Four years ago, then hosts China dominated, winning seven of the eight men’s titles, including the team gold and beating 2004 winners Japan by more than seven points.

China’s now-retired Yang Wei also won the individual men’s all-around gold, leaving Uchimura with silver.

Since Beijing, Uchimura has been undefeated – winning three consecutive world all-around titles – and now the Olympic gold is seen as his to lose.

“I want to go on the rampage and deliver a really elegant performance on the London stage,” he said this week. “I don’t feel any pressure and want to repay double the expectations people have of me. I am 120 per cent confident of winning a medal.”

The 23-year-old took gold at the World Championships last year in Tokyo ahead of Germany’s Philipp Boy and fellow Japanese Koji Yamamuro, who will also be among his challengers in London.

China possess a formidable team, although they have been weakened by the withdrawal of 2004 Olympic pommel horse champion Teng Haibin due to an arm injury.

His place has been taken by Guo Weiyang, who lines up alongside Chen Yibing, Feng Zhe, Zhang Chenglong and Zou Kai.—AFP