Shanghai continues to deliver on day 2

The second day of the 2025 World Rowing Championships saw another eight events get underway with heats, and the first record set on the Shanghai Water Sports Centre course.

Pritchard and Horrie in pole position in PR1 singles

The PR1 men’s single sculls favourites and recent medallists all progressed straight to the final, although reigning world champion Roman Polianskyi (Ukraine) was beaten narrowly by Australia’s Erik Horrie in heat 1. In heat 2, Paralympic champion Benjamin Pritchard looked impressive, beating Italian Giacomo Perini by a big margin in a World Championships best time of 8:56.14. Alexis Sanchez (France) was third after a very fast first 1000m.

Ukraine’s Anna Sheremet shot out of the blocks in the PR1 women’s single sculls preliminary race and never looked back, cementing her position as the favourite for gold. Kim Sejeong (KOR) was second, and Shao Shasha made a strong debut for China with her close third place.

Doubles live up to pre-regatta billing

The men’s and women’s double sculls have provided plenty of thrills this season already and that is clearly set to continue in China.

In the first heat of the women’s double sculls, Uzbekistan were leading at halfway, but France had caught them by 1500m. With Switzerland and Greece sprinting, the Uzbeks had nothing left, finishing fourth. China’s Chen Yunxia and Zhang Ling won heat 2 in the fastest time of the event (6:54.96), ahead of the Netherlands. The AIN double and Greece claimed the last two places in the final based on time.

Romania’s Olympic champions, Andrei Cornea and Marian Enache, did not have the strongest early season, finishing second to Poland at the 2025 European Rowing Championships but 12th at World Rowing Cup Lucerne. They seem to be back on form, posting the fastest time (6:11.88) in the heats; Poland won heat 2 in 6:11.99. But several other crews are only seconds behind, including heat 3 winners Serbia. Ireland won heat 1, but in a somewhat slower time. Expect semifinal fireworks.

Morning session ends on a high with fours

Australia were the form crew coming into the World Rowing Championships in the men’s four, having won both World Rowing Cups in style. But in a stacked heat, it was Great Britain’s new combination which led out and stayed out, winning in the quickest time of the event (5:54.18), more than two seconds clear of Australia. Romania, Lithuania and Croatia were the other three heat-winners – Croatia hanging on against a good French sprint to cross the line first.

The six women’s fours finalists were split by less than five seconds in the heats. The USA took heat 1, setting the fastest time of 6:29.75, beating Romania into second. New Zealand clung on to the heat 2 win over the Netherlands. Great Britain and China, both from heat 1, complete the final line-up, with Australia missing out by 0.3 seconds.

Favourites cruise through in singles

The women’s and men’s single sculls took place after lunch. The season’s in-form sculler, European champion Lauren Henry (Great Britain) made light work to win her heat by a good 15 seconds, but her time of 7:17.75 was only narrowly quicker than that of Olympic bronze medallist Viktorija Senkute (Lithuania), who won heat 2 in 7:17.93. European silver and bronze medallists Fiona Murtagh (Ireland) and Frida Sanggaard Nielsen (Denmark) also won their heats. Among the semifinalists is world under 23 bronze medallist Romy Cantwell, stepping up well on her senior debut.

Olympic and world champion Oliver Zeidler has only appeared once this season, racing at Henley Royal Regatta in July, but the German looked good winning heat 4 of the men’s single sculls. However, Olympic bronze medallist Simon van Dorp (Netherlands) posted the fastest time in heat 1 (6:43.03), nearly two seconds ahead of Zeidler. Olympic silver medallist and European champion Yauheni Zalaty (AIN) also won his heat, as did Uruguay’s Bruno Cetraro and China’s Han Wei.