• London Olympics 2012

British gymnasts outshine Olympic champions China

Louis Smith produced a superb display in the pommel horse © PA Photos

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Great Britain's male gymnasts did not have to wait long to learn that they had qualified for the team final after outperforming Olympic champions China on the opening day of London 2012.

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Team GB topped the first of three men's qualifying sessions with 272.420 marks, ahead of world champions China (269.985) and France (265.759). However, with two more qualification sessions later on Saturday, they had to wait to see if their score was enough to make it into the eight-team final.

But in the secound session only the United States topped the British total, meaning the home gymnasts were guaranteed a place in the team final.

Louis Smith, who won bronze in Beijing four years ago, is almost certain to challenge for individual pommel horse gold next week, after scoring 15.800 in a superb qualifying routine at the North Greenwich Arena.

His team-mates Kristian Thomas and Daniel Purvis will hope they have done enough to reach the all-round individual table after they scored 90.256 and 89.199 respectively.

British rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning fired a statement of intent as they set a new Olympic record to qualify for the women's pairs final at Eton Dorney. The pair, who are unbeaten this year, romped home to victory by a length from the United States in a time of six minutes 57.29 seconds.

The Britain's men's eight must go through the repechage if they are to reach the final after finishing second in their heat to Germany. The British men's lightweight four produced a spirited late charge to overhaul world champions Australia and qualify for the semi-finals, but the women's quad - the Beijing silver medallists - must contest the repechage after finishing fourth in their heat.

In badminton, Imogen Bankier and Chris Adcock made a disappointing start to their Olympic campaign as they lost their opening match against Russian pair Alexandr Nikolaenko and Valeri Sorokina. Last year's world silver medalists started brightly, but slumped to a 14-21 21-9 21-18 defeat at Wembley Arena. British No. 1 singles player Susan Egelstaff kicked off with a win as she defeated Slovakia's Maja Tvrdy 21-15 21-10.

Judoka Ashley McKenzie's Olympic campaign was shortlived as he bowed out of the men's 60kg category with defeat to Japan's Hiroaki Hiraoka.

Three British fencers failed to reach the last-16 of the foil competition at the ExCeL arena. Natalia Sheppard beat compatriot Sophie Troiano to reach the second round, but was subsequently thrashed 15-5 by France's Corinne Maitrejean. Anna Bentley came agonisingly close to upsetting Canada's Monica Peterson, but lost in sudden death.

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