University Rowing Championships begin in Kazan

Beginning on 7 September and going through until 9 September 2012, Kazan’s Rowing Centre will be alive with nearly 300 top university rowers from 26 nations.

Russia has entered the most athletes with a full contingent of 35 rowing in all 13 events. Amongst those participating from Russia is Kazan native, Artem Kosov. Kosov is racing in the men’s single sculls at these championships. Kosov first made the Russian national team as a junior nine years ago and has been competing at the top level ever since. Earlier this year he had attempted to qualify for the London Olympic Games in the single.

Poland has sent the next biggest team with 29 athletes competing in 10 events. One of Poland’s top contenders in Kazan is 2012 World Champion in the lightweight women’s quadruple sculls, Magdalena Kemnitz. Kemnitz will race in the lightweight women’s single sculls in Kazan. The lightweight women’s single has attracted 12 entries and is the women’s boat class with the most entries.

The lightweight men’s single sculls has attracted the biggest field for men with 13 entries. Amongst those likely to do well in the lightweight men’s single is Peter Galambos of Hungary. Galambos won this event in 2008 at the University Championships and this year he was the silver medallist in the lightweight single at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv.

Two-time Olympian Lenka Antosova of the Czech Republic is lining up in the women’s double sculls with partner Libuse Bruncvikova. Also coming to Kazan directly from the London Olympics is Antosova’s sister and Olympic doubles partner, Jitka Antosova. Jitka will race in the women’s single sculls.

This event is organised by FISU, the International University Sports Federation, and is a test event for the 2013 Summer Universiade where rowing will be included in the programme as an optional event. Kazan has been named the ‘Sports capital of Russia’ and the Kazan Rowing Centre was built especially for the Universiade. It is located on the Middle Kaban Lake.

The University Rowing Championships take place every two years and is open to all student athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 that have not been out of university, or its equivalent, for more than one year.

WorldRowing.com will feature stories from the University Championships during the regatta. Results and race information can be found here and photos can be found here. Additional information can also be found at on FISU's event page here.