Asian crews qualify for the Youth Olympic Games

Qualification took place in the four YOG events:  the junior men’s and women’s single sculls, and the junior men’s and women’s pair.

Three boats qualified in the junior men’s single sculls (China, Japan and Hong Kong), three in the junior women’s single sculls (Chinese Taipei, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Uzbekistan), one in the junior men’s pair (India) and one in the junior women’s pair (Thailand).

Qualification was based on the finishing order at the Asian Rowing Junior Championships in each of these four events. The top three places in the single sculls and the first place in the pairs were eligible to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

However, as some nations had already qualified their boat at the World Rowing Junior Championships, other nations who were not among the top-finishing boats in Singapore were able to qualify for the YOG. Uzbekistan, Hong Kong and India earned these tickets.

Uzbekistan finished fourth in the junior women’s single sculls and qualified instead of first-placed China who had already qualified earlier this year at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Hong Kong finished fourth in the junior men’s single sculls and qualified instead of third-placed Uzbekistan who had already qualified a men’s boat in Lithuania. Finally, India finished second in the junior men’s pair, but qualified instead of first-placed Uzbekistan who had already earned a spot.

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Racing took place at the Pandan Reservoir, in the West Region of Singapore where the training centre of the Singapore Rowing Association is based.

Along with YOG qualification the Asian Rowing Junior Championships attracted 25 nations, with 108 boats and more than 200 athletes lining up. China topped the medals table (three gold medals, two silvers and one bronze), followed by Uzbekistan in second position overall (three gold medals and one bronze), and finally Thailand who ranked third (two gold medals and two bronze medals).

The main YOG qualification regatta was the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships where eight boats qualified in each of the four YOG events (32 total). Further continental qualification regattas will take place in the coming months: one for Africa, one for the Americas, one for Europe and one for Oceania. The entire qualification process will lead to 96 athletes being selected for the YOG and they will make up 72 boats. A total of 24 athletes will be entered to compete in each of the four YOG events.

Buenos Aires will host the third edition of the summer Youth Olympic Games from 6 to 18 October 2018. The YOG has taken place twice before, the first time in Singapore in 2010 and Nanjing, China in 2014.

In addition to athletic competition at the Youth Olympic Games, young athletes will participate in a Culture and Education Programme (CEP) focused on five themes: Olympism and Olympic values, skills development, well-being and healthy lifestyle, social responsibility and expression through digital media.

A number of Youth Olympic Champions have continued on the path of success at the under-23 and senior levels. These include Tim Ole Naske of Germany who went on to become a two-time under-23 World Champion; Ciprian Tudos and Cristina Georgiana Popescu from Romania who respectively medalled in the senior men’s and women’s four at the European Rowing Championships; Rolandas Mascinskas of Lithuania who medalled at the senior World Cup and World Championship levels in the men’s double sculls and men’s quadruple sculls; Fiona Gammond of Great Britain who is now medalling internationally in her nation’s senior women’s eight.

To view the updated list of qualified crews, click here.

Visit the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games website here.