Japan thrives at home regatta for Asian Cup

Crews coming to Toda, Saitama, Japan for the regatta had a windy first two days, but enjoyed good rowing conditions on the final day as they competed in the six boat classes of the Asian Cup (lightweight men’s and women’s single sculls, lightweight men’s and women’s double sculls, and men’s and women’s quadruple sculls). The host country Japan was the most successful taking gold in three of the six events.  

In the lightweight men’s single sculls, first place was won by Takahiro Suda of Japan. Suda is one of the most experienced rowers in the Japanese team and was a gold medallist in the lightweight men’s four at the 2010 Asian Games. Habibian Aghel of Iran, Asian Champion in 2013, came in second. Lok Kwan Hoi, stroke of Hong Kong China’s London Olympic double, came in third.

The lightweight women’s single sculls was won by Lee Ka Man of Hong Kong China. Ka Man took gold in the lightweight women’s single at last year’s Asian Rowing Championships. Maki Noda of Japan came in second and Ji Yoo Jin of Korea was third.

Among the crews from South East Asia, Vietnam’s women were strong, winning a gold medal in the women’s quadruple sculls, as well as a silver medal in the lightweight women’s double sculls. Indonesia picked up a silver medal in the lightweight men’s double.

Iran won silver medals in the lightweight men’s single and men’s quad. Iran’s women were strong in the women’s quad where they won a bronze medal. From Central Asia, Kazakhstan was the most successful with a gold in the men’s quad.

Other countries receiving medals were Chinese Taipei and Korea. Full results can be found at the Asian Rowing Federation website: arfrowing.org.

The host venue, Toda, was the course of the 1964 Olympic Rowing Regatta. The Olympics are coming back to Tokyo in 2020, but a new venue will be constructed for rowing. Rowing will be held in the vicinity of Tokyo Bay, southeast of a new Olympic Village.

Asian crews will now turn their attention to preparing for the 2014 Asian Games which will be hosted in Incheon, South Korea in September. The Asian Rowing Cup II will take place in Indonesia in November.