South-East Asian Rowing Championships in Malaysia

Vietnamese team at the 2005 SEARF Championships
© Photo Courtesy Chris Perry

The 10th South East Asian Rowing Championships was held at the Batu Dam in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from January 10th to 16th 2005. Over 60 athletes representing Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam took part in the regatta, with some 35 crews racing in 9 events (M1x, LM1x, LM2x, M2-, LM4-, W1x, LW1x, LW2x and W2-).

Particularly impressive was the performance of Nguyen Van Nguyen who took three gold medals, rowing in the men’s lightweight single, lightweight double and lightweight fours events. Female sculler Pham Thi Hein also showed great promise with wins in the lightweight single and lightweight double.

Rowing in very strong tail-winds and difficult choppy water, the women’s pair from the Philippines ? Nida Cordova and Concepsion Fornea – showed good technical skills and better steering to win their event and secure overall second place in the medal table for their team. The Philippines will host the 2005 South East Asian Games from 28th November to 1st December 2005 and nine rowing events will be offered at the Lamesa Dam, Metro Manila.

FISA’s Asian development consultant, Chris Perry, attended the Championships and conducted a coaching seminar for participating teams which was attended by some twenty coaches. Individual meetings were also held to review training plans and athlete preparation for the coming season.

Prior to the Championships, the Malaysian Rowing Association also held a regatta for university teams as part of the Masum Games ? a national multi-sport event for university students. Eight universities took part in the rowing events with over 150 athletes taking to the water.

Medalists in the women’s single
© Photo Courtesy Chris Perry

At the SEARF Congress held at the Grand Olympic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, SEARF President Mr Benjamin Ramos from the Philippines updated delegates on preparations for the 2005 SEA Games. He also noted that it was most appropriate for the South East Asian Rowing Federation to be celebrating its 10th successful championships in Malaysia, where the Federation’s founding meeting had been held in 1993.

The Federation’s Vice President for Development Mr. Nguyen Van Thang from Vietnam discussed plans to start rowing activity in Cambodia and Laos. The Congress also ratified the membership of Brunei Rowing Association after their delegate, Major Harlip bin Ej Basar, confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs in  Brunei had formally recognized the Association. They will now seek FISA membership and hope to commence rowing activities shortly.

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