Asian numbers added to Youth Olympic Games

Held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in conjunction with the Asian Rowing Junior Championships, the qualification regatta had 17 nations participating. The four YOG events were contested – the men's and women's pair and the men's and women's single – and the top three boats in each event earned a qualifying spot.

A total of 133 athletes took part with the men's single attracting the most entries. China, who won three out of the four events, came with the biggest team of 26 rowers as well as 14 coaches and officials.

The positions qualify the country rather than the individual athlete(s) for a spot in the YOG. Athletes competing at the YOG must be born between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1997.

"As it was the first ever International Rowing event held in Samarkand, as well as the first Asian YOG Qualification Regatta, it was an historical moment in the development of Asian Rowing and Uzbekistan rowing in particular," stated Secretary General of the Asian Rowing Federation, Ken Lee.

This is the first time that continental qualification regattas have been held for the Youth Olympic Games and the upcoming YOG is being held for the second time. They will take place in Nanjing, China in August 2014.

This year's World Rowing Junior Championships in August was the main qualification regatta for the YOG. Earlier this month the African YOG Qualification Regatta took place and then the Latin American YOG Qualification Regatta will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay in March 2014.

For detailed information on qualification go to: http://www.worldrowing.com/event_categories/youtholympicgames