Asian Games – First Day of Finals

FISA’s Competitive Rowing Commission Chairman John Boultbee reports from Busan, South Korea.

Nine countries won medals on the first day of finals at the 14^th Asian Games at Busan, Korea today (Wednesday). 

China was too strong for the rest of Asia winning all 6 gold medals decided today, with Japan collecting 2 silver medals, and Hong Kong China taking one silver and 2 bronze.  Other medal winning countries were Thailand, Uzbekistan, India, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan and the host, Korea.

There was a strong cross headwind today, after perfect conditions for the heats and repechages, and the technique of the rowers played a major part in their success, as the water was quite rough.

Zhifu Zhu of China was a minor surprise in winning the lightweight men’s single sculls, as he had to go through the repechage to make the final.  He led all the way to beat Japan’s Hitoshi Hase by 3.98 seconds in a time of 7.12.  The eighteen year old Hiu Fung Law of Hong Kong took third, holding out the favoured Philippines sculler Jose Rodriguez.

Then it was the turn of China’s Fengjun Fu in the lightweight women’s single scull, beating the Thailand Olympian Phuttharaksa Nikree and Ka Yan Yung from Hong Kong.  Fu was far too strong in what had become a heavy wind, with a margin of 19 seconds.  Nikree is concentrating on the double sculls to be raced tomorrow, and Yung did well despite nursing a sprained ankle which she sustained earlier this week.

The men’s coxless four was also an all the way win for China.  Uzbekistan was second with half of its eight, and India held off Korea for third place.  In the women’s four it was Chinese Taipei who finished second to China with Uzbekistan third.

Xiuyun Zhang of China was a finalist in the women’s single sculls at the World Championships in Seville last week, and today  it was a formality for her to win the Asian title.  Her time of 9 minutes 15 seconds showed how the conditions had deteriorated.  Seventeen year-old school girl Naoe Harada from Japan was second, and Korea’s Eun Waoi Lee held off a strong challenge from Pere Karoba of Indonesia to take third place.

The 90 kg Chinese sculler Yonghui Cui completed China’s perfect record in the men’s single sculls, but a lot of the attention went to Hiu Fung Law, the 18 year-old from Hong Kong China, backing up after the lightweight singles to take the silver in the heavyweight event.  Pakistan won its first medal with Muhammad Akram finishing third.

Seven  finals will be raced tomorrow, and better conditions are predicted.