A lackluster performance by China Saturday was enough to give it the lead in the women's team event at the gymnastics World Championship but is unlikely to be enough to retain top spot. The Chinese scored 230.370 points despite major errors on uneven bars — normally their best event — and passed Romania for the top spot. Romania, which competed Friday, scored 227.228 points. But those standings are unlikely to hold up with the United States and defending champion Russia competing later Saturday. The top eight teams earn spots at next summer's London Olympics as well as in Tuesday's event finals. Scoring restarts in event finals, where three gymnasts compete on each event and all three scores count. Britain qualified for the London Olympics, finishing eighth in prelims Saturday. The British had hoped to avoid that, and they did — barely. They finished with 220.553 points and knocked Italy (219.578) down another spot. Japan also qualified, finishing fifth.
