07 Dec 2011
Growth of Asian rowing evident at Asian Games
The rowing regatta at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China has finished with medals going to more nations than just China. Since rowing became an Asian Games sport in 1982, China has dominated the medals table. This year they were very successful, but other Asian nations showed they had what it took to push through to the medals podium.
India won their first ever gold medal in rowing at these Games when Bajrang Lal Takhar finished first in the men’s single scull. Takhar, from a small village in the Rajasthan area of India has been hailed as a local hero.
Chris Perry, FISA’s development consultant for Asia attended the Games and described the race. “In the absence of China’s top sculler Liang Zhang Liang, who rowed in the men’s double at this event, the remainder of Asia’s top scullers from recent years battled it out. In the end, it was Takhar, ahead of Ming Hui Wang of Chinese Taipei.
"The most applause, however, was generated for the third placed sculler – Haeidr Hamarasheid of Iraq. Rashid fought off challenges from Vladimir Chernenko of Uzbekistan and Hiu Fung Law of Hong Kong to take Iraq’s first medal of the Games. This was a huge story for the country.”
After the race Hamarasheid told AFP news agency, “I’m so happy and excited because this is the first medal for Iraq at the Asian Games. This achievement will encourage young people in Iraq. We have trained in Baghdad and the environment was quite good without much security concern. We have been working hard.”
Perry said the most anticipated race was the lightweight men’s single scull. “The showdown between Japan’s Daisaku Takeda (5th at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Karapiro) and Iran’s Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh (under-23 World Champion) ended in Naghadeh leading from the start to take the gold with apparent ease in a fast time of 6:55.62 and watched by Iran’s vice president. Takeda was second in 7:00.43.
“Naghadeh again confirmed his status as a rising star in the international rowing arena,” said Perry. “Takeda was perhaps a little tired after competing in New Zealand only a week earlier.”
Perry said the third race of special note was the newly introduced lightweight women’s quadruple sculls. “This was won, predictably, by China but the silver medal for Vietnam and bronze medal for Iran were major successes for two of the newer rowing countries in the region. The event attracted six entries which, Perry said, showed good progress and development in women’s rowing in the region.”
The lightweight men’s double sculls attracted the most number of entries with 11 boats competing. China’s Guolin Zhang and Jie Sun, who finished fifth at the 2010 World Rowing Championships, won the event. Hong Kong was second and Japan third.
Top Chinese sculler, Liang Zhang raced to first in the men’s double sculls along with partner Hui Su. Zhang was a finalist in the men’s single at this year’s World Rowing Championships.
Overall China won 10 out of the 14 gold medals using team members that mainly came directly from the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand. Japan also had a strong showing with two gold, two silver and one bronze medal. This placed Japan second overall on the medals table, with India third and Iran fourth.
The regatta took place at the Guangdong International Rowing and Canoeing Centre, a man-made rowing course 2500m long and 160m wide and of full international standard. The week saw fast times due to excellent water conditions – flat water, sunny with light tail winds.
The Asian Games are held every four years and are the biggest international sporting event after the Olympic Games. A total of 45 countries and regions participate with 201 rowers from 19 countries and regions competing. China had the largest delegation with 32 athletes, followed by Iran with 25 and India, 24. The next Asian Games will be held in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea.
Detailed results can be found here: http://www.gz2010.cn/
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