Hong Kong rowers back in business with virtual regatta in bid to qualify for indoor Worlds
- Hong Kong will have 19 athletes, including Asian champions Chiu Hin-chun and Chan Chi-fung, racing on rowing ergometers
- Team will compete in first international race for more than a year with Olympic qualifiers looming in May
Hong Kong’s rowers will compete in their first race in more than a year this weekend at the Asian qualification for the World Rowing Indoor Championships, and possibly their only international race before the all-important qualifiers in May for the Tokyo Olympics.
Chiu Hin-chun, Chan Chi-fung and Winnie Hung Wing-yan will spearhead a strong 19-member Hong Kong team, with the “regatta” taking place on rowing ergometers and through virtual competition. Chiu and Chan are the 2019 Asian Championships gold medallists in the men’s lightweight double sculls, while Hung reached the final in the women’s lightweight singles at the 2019 U-23 World Championships.
A total of 14 Asian teams with nearly 300 competitors have registered for the qualifiers, with Hong Kong as the “hosts”. Through a new virtual platform, developed by Time Team in the Netherlands, rowers can compete against each other from any location, with all performances directly compared online.
Spectators and supporters are also able to watch the races in real time, with live streaming on YouTube and the Rowing Association’s official social media page.
There are five continental qualifiers – Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania – with the finals to be held from February 23 to 27.