The first gold of the Hangzhou Asian Games was born! Belongs to our Chinese delegation!
On the morning of September 24, at the Fuyang Aquatic Center, the women's lightweight double sculls final of rowing came to an end, and the Chinese pair Zou Jiaqi/Qiu Xiuping crossed the finish line in 7:06.78 to win the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation, which was also the first gold medal decided by this Asian Games.
This is also the first gold medal won by the Chinese sports delegation in six consecutive Asian Games since 2002!
The Zou Jiaqi/Qiu Xiuping combination won the gold with an absolute advantage.
Previously, in the preliminary round of this event, the Zou Jiaqi/Qiu Xiuping combination showed good form, and won the first place in the group with a clear advantage of 9.37 seconds ahead of the second place and advanced to the final of Group A.
Looking ahead to the final, the pair showed plenty of confidence. "This is my first time competing in the Asian Games, and I'm still on my doorstep and I have to fight for gold. The preliminary round is more confident than after the end, and I am fully sure. "Post-00s" young player Zou Jiaqi said before the game.
"Mom and Dad are waiting for themselves at the end, and they have to try to row to the finish line and row towards them."
Zou Jiaqi's parents also sent their daughter's blessings before the game - "I hope you maintain a good attitude in the past two days, eat well, sleep well, rest well, and meet the final in the best condition." Zou Jiaqi's mother said.
Her father also said, "I wish you to finally win the Asian Games championship, win glory for your hometown Tonglu and Hangzhou, and win glory for China." ”
Zou Jiaqi (right) and Qiu Xiuping (left).
Faced with the heavy task of competing for the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation, the Chinese rowing team has long been prepared.
Zhang Dan, deputy leader of the Chinese rowing team, said in an interview, "We are very honored to undertake this task. Winning glory for the country is a responsibility and mission of our Chinese sports people. Athletes and coaches are confident and dare to take on this responsibility. ”
Zou Jiaqi was selected by the coach of the Hangzhou City team in the fourth grade of primary school and has since embarked on the road of rowing, and she has won many gold medals in national competitions in her previous career.
Qiu Xiuping, from Shaoguan, Guangdong, also stood on the highest podium in the national competition - at the 2022 Rowing World Cup Belgrade, Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping finished second in the women's lightweight double sculls with a time of 6:55.42. At the 2023 World Rowing Championships, they finished sixth in this event and qualified for the Paris Olympics.
In the Asian Games, the Chinese delegation has topped the gold medal list for many consecutive times since the 1982 Asian Games. At the last Asian Games in Jakarta, the Chinese delegation won 132 gold medals.