Vietnam shines as Hai Phong hosts a successful 2025 Asian Rowing Championships

The 2025 Asian Rowing Championships concluded on Sunday, 19 October, on the waters of the Gia Dam River in Hai Phong, Vietnam, marking another successful continental gathering of Asia’s best rowers.

Organised by the Vietnam Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing Federation under the auspices of the Asian Rowing Federation, the Championships brought together nearly 700 athletes, coaches and officials from 18 nations and territories. Over four days of competition, crews battled for continental honours across 20 boat classes in men’s and women’s events.

Vietnam’s golden moment

 The host nation produced one of its best performances to date at an Asian Rowing Championships, winning six gold, one silver and two bronze medals, topping the medal table ahead of traditional regional powerhouses such as China or Japan.

Victories for Vietnam included standout performances in the women’s eight (W8+), the women’s four (W4-) and the women’s quadruple sculls (W4x), which drew loud cheers from the home crowd lining the riverbanks. These results mark Vietnam’s strongest showing at the continental level and reflect the rapid development of Rowing across the country in recent years.

India’s delegation earned particular praise, securing three gold medals — including a great gold medal from Balraj Panwar in the men’s single sculls (M1x) ahead of Bakr Shihab Ahmed Al Dulaimi of Iraq and Memo Memo of Indonesia. Uzbekistan is going home with four gold medals, including wins in the men’s pair, the men’s eight and the women’s double sculls marking one of the country’s best continental performances in recent years.

Competitive field and regional growth

The Championships featured strong participation from across Asia, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Kazakhstan, and Iraq. Each nation contributed to a dynamic and competitive regatta that highlighted the continued progress of Rowing across the region.

For Vietnam, hosting the 2025 Asian Rowing Championships represents both a sporting milestone and a legacy opportunity. The event’s success has bolstered confidence in Hai Phong’s capacity to stage future international competitions while further promoting rowing within Vietnam’s growing sports landscape.

With the continental season now concluded, many of Asia’s top rowers will turn their attention toward preparations for upcoming multi-sport events, including the 2026 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games, where the momentum from Hai Phong is set to carry forward.

Find all results on the event page here.

Photos thanks to VCRSF Organising Committee.