Asia’s turn for Olympic qualification

The regatta has 22 countries competing.

This regatta allows for Olympic qualification in four events – men’s single sculls (six places), women’s single sculls (five places), lightweight men’s double sculls (three places) and lightweight women’s double sculls (three places).

The biggest contingent of athletes come from India and host nation Korea. They have entries in all four categories. The men’s single has attracted the most number of entries with 20 countries competing, followed closely by the women’s single with 16 entries.
For the first time internationally the Maldives are competing. They have sent two single scullers. These athletes have been rowing since September 2011 and know rowing from using wide boats on the coastal waters surrounding the many islands of the Maldives.

Many of the athletes are seasoned Olympians with a huge amount of experience. Japan’s Daisaku Takeda, 38, is going after Olympic Games number five. Takeda has raced in the final of the lightweight men’s double twice and he is teaming up with 2008 Olympic partner, Kazushige Ura to try and qualify for 2012. Thailand’s Phuttharaksa Nikree is also experienced. Nikree raced at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in the women’s single and is trying for the same event this year.

The only athletes competing for Iraq at the 2008 Olympics were two rowers, the men’s double sculls of Haeidr Hamarasheid and Jebur Al-Hilfi. This time Hamarasheid is trying for the men’s single and Al-Hilfi will go for the lightweight men’s double with Ahmed Haily. These athletes have received much publicity for their continued efforts to train in war-torn Baghdad.

Iran’s under-23 sensation, Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh is now nearly 24 years old. Naghadeh has twice been under-23 World Champion in the lightweight single. He competed at the 2008 Olympics and is back to try for the men’s single for London.

To acclimatise and make the most of the new Tangeum Lake international rowing venue in Chungju, most teams arrived over a week ago. This also gave them the opportunity to take part in the pre-regatta training camp.

Secretary General of the Asian Rowing Federation, Ken Lee says a number of spectators are expected, “We are expecting a lot of local spectators and a good proportion from overseas coming to support their teams. Japan will be sending 40 supporters and we also expect officials from Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia because this is a very high profile event.”

Interest locally in the regatta is large as the Korean Rowing Federation has spent the last year raising awareness of rowing in the country. Lee explains, “Every Saturday for four months the nation could tune in and watch a range of Korean celebrities learning the art of rowing and preparing for a competition at the 1988 Olympic Regatta Course in Seoul. In the last episode this celebrity team raced teams from Oxford University (GBR), Melbourne University (AUS), Waseda University (JAP), Keio University (JAP) and three Korean Universities. They performed very well.”

“So everyone is very excited to watch international athletes from around Asia compete at the Asian Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju for the last few slots at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”

For information on the event visit World Rowing's event page and the Asian Rowing Federation's website