COPENHAGEN (Kyodo) -- Japan reached the men's team sprint podium for the first time at the track cycling world championships Wednesday by beating Britain in the bronze medal race in Ballerup, Denmark.

The Japanese team of Yoshitaku Nagasako, Kaiya Ota and Yuta Obara outsprinted Paris Olympic runner-up Britain after placing third in qualifying and defeating Colombia in the heats to advance to the medal races with the third-fastest time.

"I'm happy to receive a medal, although I'm not satisfied because I think we could have won a higher medal," said Obara, a member of the Japanese sprint team that finished fifth at the Paris Games.

In the men's team pursuit, Japan beat Canada in the first round and will battle Germany for bronze on Thursday.

The world championships continue through Sunday at the Ballerup Super Arena.