Beijing, China, May 18, 2021: China’s rowing team secured two more slots at Tokyo 2020 in the women's four and women's eight at the 2021 World Rowing Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland on Sunday, Xinhua News reports.
Along with six other places already booked at the World Championships in 2019, China will compete in eight events at Tokyo 2020. The previous six places were secured in men's double sculls, men's quadruple sculls, women's single sculls, women's double sculls, women's pair and women's quadruple sculls.
Wang Fei, Lin Xinyu, Lu Shiyu and Qin Miaomiao formed the women's four crew who performed well and kept up with Ireland in the final, finishing second in 6:34.43 to clinch the spot.
"It's a great result for us since we have only trained together for less than a month," said Wang, the coxswain. "Winning the qualification is just our first step to claim a medal at the Tokyo Olympics."
The women's eight crew came to Lucerne with a new line-up but dominated the race from the beginning to finish with a time of 6:12.80.
China bagged a bronze medal in the women's eight at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul but have missed the past three Olympics.
"Thanks to my team, we worked together very well today and we are more confident to achieve better results in Tokyo," said coxswain Guo.