Pakistan rowers win gold, silver medals

Contingent proves mettle on day one of ASRA Championship 2014.

KARACHI:

Pakistan dominated the U16 junior girls’ doubles event at the Association of School Rowing in Asia (ASRA) Championship 2014 after winning gold and silver medals in Dubai on Friday.

Pakistan sent a 60-member squad for the ASRA Championship, which includes 18 boys and 42 girls from eight different schools.

The Pakistan girls’ team, consisting of 42 rowers, proved their mettle on the opening day when Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) took the gold medal in the doubles’ scull event, while CAS followed them in second place to grab the silver.

CJM continued to impress in other events as they finished second in the juniors girls’ quad category as another participant from the school went on to clinch the bronze medal in the single scull girls’ competition, according to Pakistan Rowing Federation vice-president Abdul Rehman Babai.

Babai stated that Pakistan began their campaign on a fierce note, and he expected two more medals on day two.

He added that Pakistan had also qualified for the final races in the junior girls’ single scull event, while The Lyceum School carried on the momentum by booking their place in the finals of the seniors’ girls’ and boys’ fours categories.

Hassan Currimbhoy, who is aiming to win the seniors’ single scull competition on Saturday, has been reputed as the favourite for Pakistan, as stated by the vice-president.

“Our rowers will do better on the second day,” Babai told The Express Tribune. “Currimbhoy will be the favourite as he competed in the Asian Junior Championship earlier, so he has the confidence and the experience.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2014.

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