Wind, not water pollution, is main concern for Hong Kong rowers at Tokyo’s Olympic venue
- Coach Chris Perry is preparing his rowers for the Olympic qualifying programme, hoping for success in at least lightweight doubles and singles
Rio 2016 fears centred around polluted waters for the rowing venue. For Tokyo 2020, the key issue is wind, says Hong Kong coach Chris Perry.
The veteran coach and his squad have recently returned from a training camp in Japan where they tested potential pre-Olympic training venues in Kawabe and Ena.
“In terms of overall preparation of the venue and overall logistics, we have a lot of confidence that Japan will put it together nicely,” said Perry. “Our only concern is wind. It will be right out in Tokyo Bay and we understand they are putting in attenuators for waves and things like that.
“But it remains to be seen. It’s a new venue and no one has really had a chance to test it.”
Rowing and canoe events will be held at the Sea Forest Waterway course being built on the canals between reclamation areas of the Port of Tokyo.
The first test of the course will come in July this year when it stages the World Junior Championships.
Perry on Friday named a 15-strong squad for a tour of Europe where they will prepare for the World Cup in Netherlands, World Under-23 Championships in United States and World Senior Championships in Australia.
He said Hong Kong have a realistic chance of qualifying rowers for the men’s and women’s lightweight double sculls and he may also consider an attempt at the men’s and women’s single sculls.
“The World Senior Championships are also the start of the Olympic qualification process for Tokyo and we will focus on trying to form crews in the lightweight double sculls events for men and women,” said Perry.
“There are seven slots for each of these boats at the Worlds, a further three at the Continental Qualification in April 2020 and two at the final qualification in Europe in May 2020. The continental event also offers five slots for men’s and women’s single sculls so we would also consider these.”
The squad for Europe features: Women – Lee Ka-man, Winne Hung Wing-yan (U23), Wong Sheung-yee, Leung King-wan, Leung Wing-wun (U23), Cheung Hoi-lam (U23); Men – Chiu Hin-chun, Chan Yuk-man, Chan Chi-fung (U23), Lam San-tung (U23), Wong Wai-chun (U23), Chau Yee-ping (U23), Wong Ho-yin (U23), Chan Tik-lun (U23), Ho Chak-lung (U23).
Two-time Olympian Lee Ka-man is favourite to represent Hong Kong but Perry said there are a number of under-23s who are challenging the senior rowers.
“Winne Hung is a young upcoming talent who raced at the Asian Games last year and has already won the Central Japan Championships this year.” he said.
In the men’s group the top athlete is Chiu Hin Chun – Rio Olympian and sliver medallist in the Asian Games last year. Lam San Tung and Chau Yee Ping are also Asian Games medallists from 2018, while Wong Wai-chun was Hong Kong’s first-ever Youth Olympic Games participant.
Chan Chi Fung was twice Asian Champion as a junior and was also an Asian Games contender last year.
