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)