Hong Kong China Rowing Association

Hong Kong rowers had the chance to test the new 2018 Asian Games rowing course in Indonesia over the weekend. The final Asia Cup Regatta of the season was held at the Jakabaring Sports City, near Pelambang, as an official test regatta for the new Games venue. The rowing facilities are not yet fully completed, but it was possible to row over 1850m of the eventual 2000m course, and many Asian countries took the opportunity to do so.

Hong Kong sent a small delegation, comprised mainly of the younger rowers in the Asian Games squad, to give them more racing experience ahead of team trials to be held later. The group achieved excellent results however, bringing home a total of 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medal.

The star performance came from former Asian Junior Champion, CHAN Chi Fung, who is now starting his second year in the senior team. CHAN took gold medals in both the open and lightweight men’s single sculls. His team-mate WONG Wai Chun, who is still a junior, also took the bronze medal in the lightweight event. Earlier in the year, WONG gained a qualifying place for Hong Kong at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The women’s lightweight single scull saw the emergence of a new talent in the Hong Kong women’s team. Winne HUNG Wing Yan, racing at her first-ever international event, took the silver medal with an impressive debut race.
In the men’s lightweight double scull, CHAN Yuk Man and LAM San Tung faced strong opposition in this Olympic boat class but were able to secure another silver medal after a hard-fought race. A further bronze medal came in the men’s pairs, from junior rowers YIP Chun Kit and HO Chak Lun.

LEE Yuen Yin and HUI Wing Ki also had an excellent race but narrowly missed a medal – finishing 4th in the women’s lightweight double sculls.

Coach Alex LO, who led the team to Indonesia, was pleased with the overall performance:-
“It was a really good opportunity for our young rowers to get some extra racing experience before they take on their older team-mates in trials for the Asian Games Team in 2018. It also allowed the coaches to see the Asian Games rowing venue and to plan ahead. The facilities are not finished in Pelambang and there is still a lot of work to be done. There will be some big challenges ahead”.

Issued by: Hong Kong, China Rowing Association

Date: 11 December 2017