VILNIUS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 U-19 World Rowing Championships began in Lithuania on Wednesday.
742 rowers from 59 countries and regions are to race in 13 boat classes until August 6, according to the Lithuanian rowing federation.
For the coming five days, the rowers will not only compete for medals, but also for qualification for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) for athletes of 18 and under, since the 2017 World rowing Junior Championships is also the qualification regatta for YOG. According to the World rowing federation (FISA), 96 athletes will be selected for the YOG during the qualification.
The venue in Galve Lake Trakai, Eastern Lithuania, is the biggest rowing competition in Lithuania this year, says the federation. Lithuania, a small Baltic country with a population of less than 3 million, is represented by 22 athletes that make up 9 boats.
"The main goal is to get into the Youth Olympic Games, which will take place next year in Argentina," Dainius Pavilionis, the president of Lithuanian rowing federation, was quoted as saying in a press release.
He says he expects two Lithuanian crews to reach finals and compete for the medals.
