Biles leads US 1-2 for first gymnastics world title

New York: US champion Simone Biles powered her way to her first major gymnastics title by claiming the women`s all-around world gold on Friday.

The 16-year-old took the crown in her debut year as a senior ahead of compatriot Kyla Ross, 16, with Russia`s Aliya Mustafina, the 2010 all-around champion and the most decorated gymnast at the London Olympics, taking bronze. In the absence of defending champion Jordyn Wieber and Olympic gold medallist Gabby Douglas, Biles and Ross ensured that the US team dominated at the Antwerp Sports Palace. Biles, who already topped qualifying ahead of Ross, started strongly on the vault and uneven bars, and held off her countrywoman despite a few wobbles on the beam, with a strong performance on the floor. Her final score of 60.216 points gave her gold with Ross achieving 59.332. Mustafina, 19, who had trouble during the qualification round, clinched the final podium place on the floor to score 58.856. Japan`s Kohei Uchimura added an unprecedented fourth gymnastics all-around world title to his Olympic crown on Thursday. Uchimura, 24, won with 91.990 ahead of compatriot Ryohei Kato (90.032) with Germany`s Fabian Hambuechen taking bronze (89.332). This year`s world championships are for all-around and apparatus events only, with no team competition taking place. The competition wraps up with the apparatus finals on Saturday and Sunday. AFP