Asian Games get Underway in South Korea

With the conclusion of the World Rowing Championships in Seville, attention now turns to Busan in South Korea where the top athletes in Asia are arriving to take part in the Asian Games. Held every four years, the Asian Games are the biggest regional sports festival attracting some 10,000 athletes and officials from the 44 member countries of the Olympic Council of Asia.

A total of 36 sports are being offered in Busan, including the rowing competition which has attracted over 100 crews from 19 countries. Racing will take place on the newly constructed Nakdong River Rowing and Canoeing Course, where the Organizing Committee and Korean Rowing Federation have made excellent preparations to receive the teams.

China and Japan, traditionally Asia’s largest rowing nations, have both entered strong teams with the Japanese crews flying in directly from Seville. Whilst these two nations can be expected to dominate the top of the medal tables, they can expect to face challenges from many of the region’s fast-developing smaller nations and from host country, Korea, who have fielded a full team.

One of the early news stories at the Games is the participation of a large delegation from DPR Korea – South Korea’s northern neighbours, and this includes a number of rowing crews who will certainly be the ‘dark horses’ of the competition.

A strong representation from South East Asia, one of the most active regions in FISA’s Development Programme, includes Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar – who are participating for the first time in rowing at Asian Games. It is also very pleasing to see Kuwait and Sri Lanka participating from other parts of Asia, together with Kazahakstan, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

The events attracting the largest number of entries for men are the lightweight single and double sculls and, for women the lightweight double – again showing the importance placed on the Olympic lightweight events in the region.

Racing begins September 30 and runs until October 3.