(LEAD) (Universiade) Gymnast Yang Hak-seon withdraws from team event with injury

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GWANGJU, July 4 (Yonhap) -- Gymnast Yang Hak-seon, South Korea's best hope for a medal in artistic gymnastics at the ongoing Universiade, pulled out of the floor exercise after aggravating his leg injury during the men's team event on Saturday.

The 2012 Olympic vault champion failed to complete a routine on the first day of the team competition, and walked off the floor dejectedly at Kwangju Women's University Gym.

Prior to the Universiade, Yang revealed he'd suffered a right hamstring injury and hadn't been able to train for three weeks.

The same ailment had kept him from winning gold in vault at last year's Asian Games in Incheon.

In the buildup to the competition, Yang had said he was confident he could still win at least the individual gold in vault without attempting difficult routines and risking further injury.

The abrupt withdrawal dashed South Korea's hopes of grabbing a team medal. The individual vault competition is scheduled for Tuesday.

Yang, a native of Gwangju who'd also won the 2013 Universiade gold in vault, was one of the final torch bearers at the opening ceremony on Friday.

Yang returned for the ring portion later, and pulled off a relatively clean routine to score 14,600 points, good for ninth place.

He appeared pleased with his performance, but decidedly more downcast when speaking to reporters after his day ended.

"I wasn't feeling great in practice today, but I just taped my leg because there wasn't anything else I could do," he said. "I will get it treated as soon as I get back to the athletes' village. I don't know if I'll be able to compete again but I will try to stay positive."

Yang said he went against the advice of his coaches and returned for ring because he was competing for the team, not just for himself.

"I didn't want to give up because I felt I had to do my job," he added. "I will bear down and compete the best I can the rest of the way."

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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