China edges Russia for gold at worlds

Nikita Nagornyy stuck his high bar dismount, flexed just a bit and let out a sigh. Exhausted but exhilarated, the Russian thought his country’s wait to return to the top of the sport was finally over. Then his score flashed and a whoop went out in Doha, Qatar. Only it didn’t come from the Russians but the Chinese, who took gold in a tense if sloppy men’s team final by less than five-hundredths of a point to claim their first major international title in four years.

China’s total of 256.634 was just ahead of Russia’s 256.585. Nagornyy — who stalled midway through his final routine and was scored 13.733, not quite enough for Russia to slip past China.

The Chinese were helped on parallel bars by Zou Jingyuan, whose score of 16.2 marked the highest of the meet. The Chinese headed to the final rotation leading by 1.2 points only to see Xiao Ruoteng come off early in his high bar routine. His score of 12.6 opened the door for the Russians, but Nagornyy couldn’t quite take advantage. China earned an automatic spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics, as did Russia and third-place Japan. The U.S. finished fourth.

■ The former president of USA Gymnastics pleaded not guilty in Huntsville, Texas, to a charge of tampering with evidence in the sexual assault investigation of now-imprisoned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

ODDS AND ENDS

MLB: Baseball agent Brodie Van Wagenen agreed to become the Mets’ GM. He will replace Sandy Alderson, who took a leave in June following a recurrence of cancer and didn’t return. Van Wagenen has represented players including current Mets Jacob deGrom, Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier. He must leave his clients and give up his career as an agent to take the job.

■ The Diamondbacks picked up the $14.5 million option on first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s contract for the 2019 season. ... The Nationals exercised a $6 million option for 2019 on lefty closer Sean Doolittle. ... Pitcher Adam Wainwright became a free agent, then finalized a $2 million, oneyear contract with the Cardinals that allows him to earn up to $15 million in performance bonuses.

College football: Ohio State coach Urban Meyer addressed speculation that he could step down at the end of the season, saying he definitely would be back.

Horse racing: Accelerate, the 5-year-old who has won five of six starts this year, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic after drawing the far outside No. 14 post for the $6 million race. West Coast, one of two entries trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, is the 5-1 second choice after drawing the No. 7 post. He’ll start to the right of stablemate McKinzie, the co-third choice with Mind Your Biscuits (No. 11 post) at 6-1 odds.