China roars, Germany falters after World Cup II

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26/06/2007

by Melissa Bray

Xiuyun Zhang from China with her silver medal of the women's single sculls event at the 2007 Rowing World Cup in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Xiuyun Zhang earns silver in the women's single

The status quo of international rowing was stunned last weekend at the second Rowing World Cup in Amsterdam when the Chinese dragon fired. The impact was felt world wide, especially on regular World Cup leader Germany. Not only did Germany miss out on their usual spot at the head of the rankings, but they missed even a top three position.

Never before has this been seen in the 10 year history of FISA’s Rowing World Cup.

First France felt the force of China in the women’s single. Sophie Balmary regularly finds herself in fourth and in the absence of perennial silver medallist, Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic, Balmary must have been expecting a medal. Instead it was Xiuyun Zhang of China that took that valuable silver medal medal spot and six points for her country. Then Yage Zhang and Yulan Gao pushed Australia out of the top medals in the women’s pair as well as forcing 2005 World Champions, New Zealand into silver. This was Gao’s first international regatta in the pair with Zhang after swapping from sculling to sweep rowing earlier this year.

The Chinese women's quadruple sculls with Bin Tang (b), Guixin Feng, Ziwei Jin and Yangyang Zhang (s) competing at the 2007 Rowing World Cup in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

On their way to gold in the women's quad

New Zealand suffered again in the hands of the Chinese, this time in the women’s double. Three-time World Champions and reigning Olympic Champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand could not even dent the lead Qin Li and Liang Tian established early on in the final. Li and Tian finished eighth last year at the World Rowing Championships and earlier this month at the first Rowing World Cup they gave the rowing world a taste of their new-found power by winning the double and finishing fourth in the women’s quad.

China showed staggering depth of talent in the lightweight women’s double. Local Chinese selectors must have quite a headache to decide who will be their nations number one crew after China won both the gold and silver medals in this event. Haixia Chen and Hua Yu not only finished first, but in the process beat their team mates and reigning World Champions, Dongxiang Xu and Shimin Yan.

Chinese head coach Igor Grinko commented when he took over the role two years ago that the focus would be on bigger boats. Grinko’s role was to prepare Chinese rowers for the Beijing Olympics and he saw that having such a limited time meant that the skill needed for smaller boats may be too limited. But the depth of rowing in the provinces throughout China looks to be truly revealing itself now.

The Chinese men also bared their talents. Zhongming Huang, Chongkui Wu, Lin Zhang and Jun Tian shot to the top of the international scene last year by becoming World Champions and surprising regular medallists, France, Germany and Ireland. This time they held off the recently revitalised British as well as forcing France off the winners’ dais and pushing the best of the Netherlands into third.

Qin Li and Liang Tian in the women's double

But perhaps the biggest surprise came from the Chinese men’s eight. It has been a number of years since China has boated a successful men’s eight and they were reasonably satisfied with their 11th place finish at the 2006 World Rowing Championships. Their silver medal at Amsterdam showed how far they have come. During the race the Chinese crew were the only boat to truly threaten what has been touted as Great Britain’s “super eight”, a boat made up of Britain’s top six sweep rowers.

The Chinese women’s eight have been plugging away, just outside of the medals ever since they finished fourth at the Athens Olympics. The day’s success of their team mates must have spurred them on. The crew earned a bronze medal and five points for their nation.

Overall China netted five gold medals in Olympic events with the women’s quad pushing the two-time World Champions Great Britain into second. Bin Tang, Aihua Xi, Ziwei Jin and Guixin Feng pushed the Brits out of first place early on in the race and Great Britain appeared incapable of reacting back.

Topping the World Cup table, China earned 58 points, 18 points ahead of winners of the first Rowing World Cup, Great Britain. At their 2007 international debut New Zealand finished third with 36 points after picking up gold in the men’s pair and four as well as silver in the women’s pair and double. Germany came in fourth with 32 points. France finished one point back in fifth.

Great Britain lead the overall standings, of the two 2007 World Cups, with China positioned at second overall and Germany in third. World Cup points are awarded in Olympic events only and work on a descending scale starting at eight points for a win.

The Rowing World Cup now moves on to Lucerne, Switzerland for the final leg of the season. This will take place from 13 – 15 July, 2007.

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