The Chinese rowers earned three Olympic berths by reaching
finals A in three women's events in Munich on Thursday.
In women's single sculls, Chinese veteran Zhang Xiuyun finished
first in semi-final A/B to qualify the final, reaching at least the
top six in the championships.
With nine places allowed here for the Beijing Olympic Games,
Zhang has already nailed down a spot at home soil.
Zhang made it very clear that heart problems that kept her from
competing at the Athens Olympics were well behind her before the
tournament set out. She had already got a Rowing World Cup medal
from this season and she also led in heat by rating an easy 27
strokes per minute.
In women's double sculls, Li Qin and Tian Liang followed up suit
to top the semi-final A/B, securing a top six finish and a position
back home to Beijing.
This event required a top two finish for advancement to the
semifinal and opening the first of three heats in the lead were
Elise Laverick and Anna Bebington of Britain. This was Laverick and
Bebington's first season together and they opened their World
Championship bid in style by beating Olympic Champion twins
Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell. The Evers-Swindell held the
lead through the third quarter of the race before letting Laverick
and Bebington took first. Both boats qualified for the
semifinals.
Li and Tian led after half-way to overrun New Zealand sisters
Georgina Evers-Swindell and Caroline Evers-Swindell.
Tian impressed rowers and commentators when they won the second
Rowing World Cup in Amsterdam and they seeded top in heat race.
Germany put their best scullers into the squad, but their double
of Peggy Waleska and Christiane Huth still had a solid rowing
pedigree behind them and they challenged the New Zealand. Waleska
and Huth could not catch the New Zealand but their fight earned
them a spot in the final A along.
In women's pairs, China's duo Zhang Yage and Gao Yulan managed a
third place in semi-final A/B 2, just touching the brink of final A
by 0.84 seconds edge over United States crew.
This event brought all sorts of Athens Olympians out of the
woodwork.
The 2004 bronze medallists, Yuliya Bichyk and Natallia Helakh of
Belarus led the semis.
China's Zhang and Gao won gold at the second Rowing World Cup
this season. 2005 World Champions, New Zealand's Juliette Haigh and
Nicky Coles showed that they had come a long way since their sixth
place Athens finish. Coles and Haigh settled at the second to
advance to the final A.
Britain had more than five boats going towards last six.
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)