Australia led the second-day heats with seven boats going to the next round, while China and Italy shared the highlight with five advancing each at the Munich World Rowing Championships in Munich on Tuesday.

 

Australia led in five heats. In women's eight, Australia reached final A; Men's lightweight four went for quarterfinals; Women's lightweight quadruple sculls cruised into semifinal A; Men's light pairs Ross Brown/ Michael Mcbryde to final A; Men's lightweight double sculls Sam Beltz/Tom Gibson entered quarterfinals.

 

In men's eight, Australia finished heat second after Canada to compete in semi-final B.

 

The Australian women's quad scull upset defending world champions and race record holders China.

 

The men's lightweight pair of Ross Brown and Michael Mc Bryde led all the way in their heat to win a direct route to the final, ahead of Germany.

 

Silver medalists of 2006 world championships Amber Halliday and Margurite Houston led heat at lightweight double scull.

 

Tasmanians Sam Belz and Tom Gibson won a close tussle with Germany in men's lightweight double sculls.

 

Chinese rowers secured five boats for direct qualification to next round.

 

In men's lightweight four, China's world champions line-up Huang Zhongming, Wu Chongkui, Zhang Lin and Tian Jun edged out Ukraine to win the heat for quarterfinals.

 

The four Chinese shot to the top of the international scene last year by becoming World Champions and surprising regular medalists, France, Germany and Ireland.

 

China's crew Tang Bin, Xi Aihua, Jin ziwei and Feng Guixin earned final A berth in women's quadruple sculls.

 

The same crew pushed the two-time World Champions Britain into second in Amsterdam World Cup on June.

 

In women's lightweight double sculls, Xu Dongxiang and Chen Haixia squeezed into semi-final B behind Finnish pairs.

 

Xu is the world title holder here as she was crowned last year at Eton championships. Her partner Chen is 2007 two-time World Cup gold medalist. China's single sculls national champion Zhang Guolin paired up Sun Jie to take the heat second and secured their spot at men's lightweight double sculls quarterfinal.

 

China's men's eight also pulled down a place in semi-final B. The crew gave biggest surprise by winning a silver at Amsterdam World Cup. China only finished 11th in the event at the 2006 World Rowing Championships. Italy followed up first-day's impressive performance with five boats advancing further.

 

Rowing powerhouses Britain, Germany and Russia had four boats going ahead apiece.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2007)