REUTERS/KAYHAN LIFE: The grey drizzle of Saturday’s competition was replaced by bright sunshine and climbing temperatures as the repechage racing began at the Vaire-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Joanie Delgaco of the Phillipines set the pace for the women’s single sculls in the first race, notching a time of 7:55 to go through to the semi-finals on Monday.
She will be joined by Thie Hu Fam (Vietnam), Fatemeh Mojallal Topraghghale (Iran), Elis Ozbay (Turkey), Alejandra Alonso Alderete (Paraguay) and Adriana Sanguineti (Peru).
The men’s sculls were led by Isak Ivan Zvegelj of Slovenia, who qualified alongside Javier Insfran (Paraguay), Quentin Antognelli (Morocco), Balraj Pawar (India), Sid Ali Boudina (Algeria) and Chiu Hin Chun (Hong Kong).
China’s Liu Zhiyu squeezed into the semi-finals of the men’s Olympic double sculls on Sunday, taking the last chance available in the repechage to keep his hopes of another medal alive.
The Tokyo bronze medallist and his new partner Sulitan Adilijiang crossed the finish line third in the four-team race, just enough to edge out Italy for a place in Tuesday’s semi-finals.
With one repechage in each of the men’s and women’s double sculls, European silver medallists Donata Karaliene and Dovile Rimkute were eliminated from the women’s competition after coming last, with Netherlands, Norway and Italy all progressing.
Rowing continues on Sunday with pairs, lightweight double sculls and fours heats.
