In the absence of injured Olympic and world champion Hashimoto Daikifinishing second behind Oka was Kaya Kazumawho also automatically secured a spot on the team for his second Games.
The remaining two tickets went to Sugino Takaaki, who was fifth overall (339,861) but had second best marks on three apparatus – floor (14,400), pommel horse (15,000), and horizontal bar (14,866); and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Tanigawa Wataru who excelled on the vault with a 15,433.
Thirty-four-year-old Rio 2016 champion Tanaka Yusuke fell out of the conversation after finishing fourth overall (340.392) and failing to stand out on his trademark high bar (14.833).
Tanaka did not say what the future holds for him after narrowly missing on a third Olympic appearance.
“I like to think I deserve a pat on the back. Four days of six events. No huge mistakes in the 24 performances. I’m tired. It’s tough,” he said.
“It’s not too often that I feel proud of myself despite missing out on what I set out to achieve.”
Hashimoto spoke for the first time since injuring the collateral ligament in the right middle of a finger during podium training, which forced him to miss the meet. The NHK Trophy was supposed to be his final competition before the Games.
Hashimoto said he previously injured the same finger but it’s worse this time around, admitting his Paris build-up has been slightly thrown. He is not sweating, however, and is simply focusing on healing the finger.
“I hurt the same spot a year ago and it looks worse now than it did then. I know it’s not going to heal easily but I’m taking a “it is what it is” mentality. I’ll just relax and worry about the treatment,” he said.
“I’m not too worried because I performed well at the All-Japans on both days. I did want to compete here but I came here not feeling well so there are a lot of takeaways. “I have to figure out how to make up for the lock of competition by pushing myself in practice.”
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
