World Gymnastics: GB finish sixth in women's team final

Great Britain's gymnasts finished sixth in the World Championship women's team final in Nanning, China.

The six-strong GB squad were hoping to challenge for a medal after they had qualified with the fourth-highest score on Monday.

However, they struggled on the beam and only earned a total of 168.495 points from the four apparatus.

Defending champions USA won gold (179.280), with hosts China (172.587) second and Russia (171.462) third.

The squad of Rebecca Downie, Claudia Fragapane, Hannah Whelan, Ruby Harrold, Gabby Jupp and Kelly Simm began their campaign on the uneven bars.

European and Commonwealth champion Downie and team-mate Harrold scored well, but the team's medal bid effectively ended after a difficult beam routine which Whelan found particularly challenging.

However Jupp, who ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament last year, and GB debutant Simm did impress in their first senior international final appearances.

"Of course we would like to have been in the medals but we are proud to have a team that is progressing so well," Downie told BBC Sport.

"The younger girls came in and showed they are more than ready for the major senior competitions and that's really exciting looking ahead to the next Olympics."

Four-time Commonwealth champion Fragapane scored slightly lower than expected for her vault and floor routines, but was please to gain experience of a first World Championship final.

"I was a bit nervous but the girls helped me through it and I think I've learned a lot for the future," said the 16-year-old, who will return for the all-around final on Friday.

The men's all-around final will take place on Thursday, and will feature Dan Purvis and Max Whitlock.

Whitlock - the Commonwealth gold medallist in the event at Glasgow 2014 - is a late replacement for Nile Wilson, who withdrew after suffering a wrist injury.