Hong Kong China Rowing Association

Following the success of winning 24 medals at the Asian Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships (ARVIC) held in January this year, four Hong Kong rowing talents competed in the 2022 World Rowing Indoor Championships (WRICH) at 25-26 February among the world best.

Going virtual for the second year, WRICH saw nearly 800 athletes from 66 countries competing. They qualified from around the globe through either one of 19 sanctioned events or individual qualification. The Championships was originally scheduled to take place in Hamburg, Germany, to go virtual again due to the pandemic situation worldwide. The finalists were forced to race live from their home, gym, national federation center or elsewhere, on Concept2 indoor rowing machines.

Wong Chi Shing captured medals for two consecutive years

Wong Chi Shing, Bronze medalist of Masters 30-39 Lightweight Men 500m last year, finished with his personal best 1:24.2 and won a silver medal for Hong Kong this year. He was just 2.1 seconds behind Finland rower Joonas Makipelto, who was also the winner of the same event last year. Another Hong Kong rower, Ng Ka Kit finished in 6^th place with 1:27.2 in the same event.

For 2000m events, young Hong Kong Rowing Team athlete Poon O Yu, Champion of 2019 Asian Rowing Junior Championships in Women’s Single Sculls, made her WRICH debut in Under 23 Women 2000m. She scored in a time of 7:40.7 and placed in 7^th. The 19-year-old would like to say thank you to those who has supported her, especially college for lending the equipment and venue to her, so that she would compete in this competition even under the current pandemic situation in Hong Kong. 

Lai Cheuk Yiu, Champion of Masters 30-39 Lightweight Men 2000m in ARVIC, settled for the 9^th place overall among the world best in a time of 7:05.7.

Complete results here.

Race: LM30 500m

Race: WU23 2000m

Race: LM30 2000m