14 Dec 2011
Asian Olympic qualification regatta approaching
The final Olympic qualification regatta for rowing is coming up. With just five months to go until the Beijing Olympics, China will play host at the Shanghai Water Sports Centre to the Asian Qualification Regatta.
Scheduled for 25 to 27 April the Asian Qualification Regatta will be the third and final continental qualification event that allows a quota of rowers to come from Asia, South America and Africa.
FISA’s development manager Sheila Stephans commented, “This regatta will showcase a strong field from approximately 20 Asian rowing nations. Teams will be battling for slots to the Olympics in the women’s single (5 places), men’s single (6 places), lightweight women’s double (3 places) and the lightweight men’s double (3 places).”
Traditionally, countries such as China, Japan and Hong Kong have had a strong presence at this event but many other teams have improved their level over the past several years and will be challenging the ‘old guard’ for a chance to line up at the start of the Shunyi Regatta Course, the venue for rowing at the Beijing Olympics, on the 9 August 2008.
Asian teams are reminded to complete the accommodation, boat rental and entry forms for the regatta as soon as possible (see links below). The provisional programme for the regatta can also be downloaded below.