Final berths decided at Beijing Paralympics rowing event

Source: Xinhua | 09-10-2008 20:53

BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday's repechages of all four boat classes have determined the rest finalists for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games rowing regatta at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

In the first repechage of the day, Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus and Svitlana Kupriianova from Ukraine advanced to Thursday's final of the women's single sculls after finishing first and second respectively in slight headwind conditions.

The rowers were far too good for third-place finisher Agnese Moro from Italy and the rest of the field.

China's outstanding qualification results at the first-ever Paralympic rowing regatta continued when Zhang Jinhong took the second repechage in this event with 13.34 seconds ahead of reigning world champion Claudia Santos from Brazil.

The four rowers will in Thursday's final join 2006 world champion Helene Raynsford from Britain and Ukraine's Svitlana Kupriianova, who earned direct entry after finishing top of respective heat on Tuesday.

While Zhang led from the start, Santos had a great battle with Martyna Snopek of Poland for second place and a lift in stroke rate over the final 200 meters saw the Braizilian advance to the medal race.

"With unfavourable wind condition today, I had to make a change to my planned tactics. But I really feared that I might make a lot of mistakes. Anyway, I decided to challenge myself and I made it," said Zhang.

"I am happy that I beat Santos twice. Before the race I told my coach not to let me know whom I was going to compete against as that could make me more focused.

"I will not think too much about the final but hope the wind will get weaker."