Day 1 of the 2026 World Rowing Cup II in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, brought a spicy, challenging tailwind and plenty of tight racing – with crews from China, Italy and the USA impressing as these nations made their season debuts.

Arsic enjoying singles return

Serbia’s Jovana Arsic was the fastest qualifier for the women’s single sculls, and said afterwards she was enjoying being back in the boat after almost two years. Grace Joyce (USA) won heat 2, about a second slower than Arsic.

On the men’s side, heat 1 saw the top four scullers all cross the line within 2.6 seconds of each other; Uzbekistan’s Pavel Sorin won, narrowly ahead of Samuel Melvin (USA1). Jacob Plihal (USA2), a World Rowing Cup medallist from last season, was just slightly slower in winning heat 2.

Kiwis dominant, USA and Chile take wins

World champions Oliver Welch and Benjamin Taylor (NZL) won their heat of the men’s pairs in dominant fashion, finishing 10 seconds clear of Serbia in their heat and seven seconds up on heat 1 winners Italy. That suggests they are in pole position for a second World Rowing Cup medal this year.

In the women’s pairs, Teal Cohen and Kate Knifton (USA1) were the fastest qualifiers for the final, winning heat 2 over 2025 European silver medallists Italy. Chile, bronze medallists in Seville two weeks ago, won heat 1, beating Seville winners Czechia – but the heat was somewhat slower than the first heat.

Men’s doubles produce more thrills

The men’s double sculls this season is definitely one of the closest events, and there were tight margins for the two automatic qualifying spots in all heats. Finlay Hamill and Benjamin Mason (NZL) clocked the fastest time of the four heats, with China 1’s new combination of Yi Xudi and Deng Zhiwei the next-quickest, ahead of Martin and Valent Sinkovic (CRO). Despite their extensive international medal collection in this event, the Sinkovic brothers said they were still struggling to find their racing rhythm.

China also look strong in the women’s doubles with World Rowing Cup debutant Zhang Xinyu and her partner Shen Shuangmei taking a straightforward win in heat 1, ahead of Italy. The USA won heat 1, with New Zealand second.

Nothing in it in men’s fours

Less than four seconds split the six finalists in the men’s fours. China were the fastest (5:48.41) with Uzbekistan making it through to the final in sixth place after posting 5:52.04 in the other heat. Italy, Ukraine, Romania and New Zealand make up the six boats in the medal race on Sunday.

A new-look USA crew won the women’s four preliminary race, with Seville bronze medallists New Zealand second.

Preliminary races set up finals

Italy’s world champion men’s quadruple sculls crew won their preliminary race ahead of Czechia and China, taking most of their advantage in the first 500m and then sitting back and relaxing. The USA won the women’s quadruple sculls preliminary, with China second.

Uzbekistan took the win in the preliminary races for both the PR2 mixed double sculls and PR3 mixed double sculls, crossing well ahead of Türkiye in both. The PR3 mixed double are the youngest competitors in Plovdiv, 17-year-old Dinara Belyanina and 16-year-old Akbarali Abduvaliev.

The lightweight events produced some good racing in the preliminary round. Kim Jiseon (KOR1) and Igor Khmara (UKR) set the pace at the head of the lightweight women’s and men’s single sculls fields, but second place in both races was a fight. Kimberlin Meneses (VEN2) proved the quicker of the two Venezuelans in the women’s race, while Firdavs Akhunov (UZB) took the win in the men’s.

In the lightweight men’s double sculls preliminary, Venezuela beat Uzbekistan for first place, promising an exciting final on Saturday.

Racing continues tomorrow, Saturday 13 June, starting at 10:05 local time (UTC+3).

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Daily digest: Plovdiv tailwind challenges on day 1

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