Asian Games: Cris Nievarez, Joanie Delgaco book semis spots in rowing

Photo from Philippine Rowing Association

MANILA, Philippines — Cris Nievarez and Joanie Delgaco clinched semifinal berths in their respective single sculls competitions in rowing at the Asian Games on Wednesday at Fuyang Water Sports Centre in Hangzhou, China.

Delgaco placed second in Heat 1 of the women’s single sculls, clocking 8:07 behind Anna Prakaten of Uzbekistan, who had topped the preliminary with a time of 7:42.

Wing Wun Leung of Hong Kong placed third with an 8:13 finish to book a semis berth.

In the men’s single sculls, Nievarez clocked 7:20.51 to reach the top three in Heat 2 and qualify to the semis.

Nievarez was behind Zhang Liang of China, who topped their race with 7:07.55 and second placer Ryuta Arakawa of Japan (7:17.95).

The semifinals will take place on Friday with Nievarez and Delgaco eyeing a medal in their respective divisions.

Meanwhile, Edgar Ilas and Zuriel Sumintac qualified in the men’s lightweight double sculls repechage after placing fifth out of six teams in Heat 2 with a time of 6:48.82.

Uzbekistan advanced to the final, clocking 6:20, as second placer Hong Kong, third placer China, Indonesia, and Korea will compete in the repechage on Thursday.

In the women’s lightweight double sculls, Feiza Jane Lenton and Kharl Julianne Sha placed last in Heat 1 but qualified for the repechage.

The Filipino rowers were the sixth team to finish with 7:32.49. China qualified for the final with the best time of 6:52.43.