Global Cup: China and Japan improve, USA unreachable

After their resounding victory in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, the USA have sealed, if there ever was any doubt, the 2015 Global Cup title for the world’s best sporting nation. The Stars & Stripes have carved a gap of nearly 2,000 points over second-placed Russia, though their record winning margin of 3,138 points in 2012 is not within reach.

 

On a Gymnastics theme, it is interesting to note how the overall sport group, comprising Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline, will be topped by China, only 20 points ahead of the USA.

China’s climb into overall Global Cup third place, by leap-frogging France, is indeed the month’s main news. The Asian giants finished third twice before (2011 and 2008) and were never above fourth in the Global Cup otherwise. They are now 368 points behind Russia and the race for second place is by no means a foregone conclusion.

 

Thanks to Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline and Weightlifting, November was a very positive month for another Asian nation, Japan: they were 5^th in the monthly ranking and are now 7^th overall, a big improvement over their 13^th position at the end of 2014 and on par with their best-ever Global Cup finish (7^th in 2011).

 

Looking towards the finishing line, Kenya is also worth  a mention as one of the most improved nations in the Global Cup top 20: the African nation is sitting in 12^th position, after finishing 28^th in 2014, and is still ahead of its best-ever finish, 13^th.