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South Korea’s Jeon Hye-jong claimed the Men’s Open 2000m title at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship as Chinese Taipei topped the combined medals tally with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student’s Center yesterday. |
Kazakhstan were second with nine medals, including two gold and six silver, while Japan were third with two gold and three bronze medals.
Jeon pipped Chinese Taipei’s Ming Hui Wang and Kazakhstan’s Yevgeniy Vassilyev in a gruelling match to win in 6 minutes 07.2 seconds. He was more than two and a half seconds ahead of Ming, who earlier won a bronze and silver medal. Vassilyev had won two gold medals on Thursday.
The Qataris drew a blank as far as medals were concerned but it was nevertheless a good experience for Nasser Ghanim Al-Abdulla and Ahmed Mishal al-Hilal who finished 14th and 16th, respectively among 16 contestants.
In the women’s section, Japan’s Shiho Yonekawa took the Open 2000m title as she proved too strong for her challengers. She and won in 6:55.8, the only rower to finish under 7 minutes.
Uzbekistan won their first-ever Asian indoor gold medal through Artyom Kudryashov when he claimed the Men’s Lightweight Individual 2,000m crown. He clocked 6:29.6 to beat South Korean Kang Teayoon and Itaru Yoshihara of Japan.
“I’m very proud to win the first Asian indoor rowing gold medal for my country. I worked very hard for this race, Kudryashov said. “Besides the first place, I’m also pleased to have given my best time. The competition is always tough and Uzbekistan won only one medal and that is a gold medal. I’m just too excited,” he added.
Thailand’s experienced Phuttharaksa Neegree signed off with a gold in the lightweight class. In the middle of the race, she built up a good lead and clocked 7:26.3 to beat Chinese Taipei’s Meng Hsin Lee (7:33.1) and Japan’s Chika Miyata (7:35.2).
Both Meng and Chika had won two medals each earlier. However, in the individual lightweight class, Phuttharaksa was quite impressive. Meng won two gold medals and Chika grabbed one gold and one bronze medal yesterday.
On the first day, the Thai Olympian, who recently got married, also claimed two bronze medals and was determined to go home with the gold medal.
“I recently got married and I’m having a good time. Last year, I was third. I’ve been rowing for 18 years but I’m delighted to be the best in the Asian indoor individual rowing event,” she added.
