Gold medalists Team China (C), silver medalists Team Poland and bronze medalists Team of the Netherlands pose during the awarding ceremony for rowing women's four at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)
CHENGDU, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland were the biggest winners at the Chengdu Universiade rowing tournament which ended here on Sunday.
China took four out of 15 gold medals on offer, and also bagged two silver and four bronze medals.
China's Zhou Yuxiu and Zhang Peixin won the host nation's first gold in the women's pair, before Song Chunxiao, Zong Zhaoshan, Liu Jiangyu and Xiao Yang took a convincing win in the men's four final.
"I am happy that all my teammates made great efforts during the competition," said Song.
Zhang Shuxian, Liu Xiaoxin, Wang Zifeng and Xu Xingye overwhelmed their opponents in 6:41.05 to take gold in the women's four, with China also emerging victorious in the women's eight.
Poland scooped three golds in the mixed quadruple sculls, men's double sculls and lightweight women's single sculls.
"Our rivals surprised us. We expected Germany to be the toughest opponent, but Italy threatened us the most. However, we were fully focused on ourselves. We had a good plan which worked," said Kajetan Szewczyk, who teamed up with Barbara Streng, Katarzyna Duda and Jakub Wozniak to win the mixed quadruple sculls.
"We felt very motivated, as in the other disciplines, Polish athletes had good results. It isn't easy to fight for the podium, but when you have a medal, you feel great satisfaction," Szewczyk added.
Other rowing golds went to the Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Turkey. ■
Team of the Netherlands react after the rowing women's four final A at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)
Team Poland compete during the rowing women's four final A at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Bronze medalists Team of the Netherlands react during the awarding ceremony for rowing women's four at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)
Silver medalists Team Poland pose during the awarding ceremony for rowing women's four at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)
