Hong Kong China Rowing Association

A total of four events will be offered at this regatta – Men’s Open Singles, Women’s Open Singles, Men’s Lightweight Doubles and Women’s Lightweight Doubles. Seven qualifying places are available in each of the singles events, and three places in each of the doubles events. Hong Kong crews will take part in both lightweight doubles events and the men’s singles. The Hong Kong delegation will feature some of the HKSARs most seasoned rowers. Law Hiu Fung, racing in the men’s open single, is the team’s longest serving athlete. A veteran of four Asian Games and two previous Olympics, Law is hoping to qualify for a third time in his favoured event. He was bronze medalist in the single at the 2015 Asian Championships. In the men’s lightweight double sculls, Asian Games silver medalist Tang Chiu Mang will combine with one of the squad’s top newcomers – Chiu Hin Chun. Chiu, who switched to rowing from the HKSI windsurfing squad, was a finalist at last year’s Asian Championships before winning the Olympic trial races earlier this season. The reserve sculler for the crew will be Leung Chun Shek who rowed in the bow seat of the Hong Kong double at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and narrowly missed out to Chiu this year. In the women’s lightweight double sculls, top female sculler Lee Ka Man will be joined by her younger sister – Lee Yuen Yin. Ka Man is best known for her outstanding record in the single sculls event, having competed at the Olympic Games in Beijing and won silver medals at the Asian Games in 2006 and 2014. In 2015, she switched to compete in the lightweight doubles with her sister, winning medals at the Asian Championships in both the open and lightweight events. Yuen Yin meanwhile was also a previous finalist in the lightweight quads at the 2010 Asian Games and in the doubles in 2014. Head Coach, Chris Perry, noted that the qualification event will be much more challenging than for previous Olympic years:- “This time around crews from Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) have been included in the event and this will increase the number of entries. There is also a new rule which states that a team can only qualify a maximum of one men’s and one women’s boat. So if we are in qualifying position in both men’s events, we will only be able to take one of them. Racing is likely to be extremely close and this is the only regional qualifying event – so it is a one-shot deal. Nevertheless, our crews are experienced and have prepared well. We would certainly expect to be very competitive”. The team will depart to Korea on 17th April and racing begins from the 22nd Apr. The HKCRA wishes the Hong Kong delegation every success in the coming Regatta.