Self-belief helps HK rower win gold at Asian Games

Hong Kong rower Chiu Hin-chun secured a gold medal in the lightweight men’s single sculls at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Sunday, crediting self-belief for his victory. He achieved a time of six minutes and 50.32 seconds on Thursday, marking his first gold at the Games. Prior to this, he had claimed silver in Jakarta in 2018 and bronze in Hangzhou in 2023.

Chiu highlighted that his South Korean competitor Park Hyun-su, who took bronze in Japan, had previously won gold in Indonesia. "At that time, I knew I [was] able to get the champion, but I lacked experience in the major games, so I felt a bit pity for that," he recalled. This time, Chiu vowed to win it back if given the opportunity, describing his revenge as "very successful."

Although trailing by two seconds at the halfway mark, Chiu mounted a decisive move in the final 1,000 meters to clinch the race by more than two seconds. He emphasized the importance of mental training and self-belief, especially when falling behind in the race. Despite his accolades as an Asian Games and Olympic champion, Chiu remains focused on improving, particularly his rowing technique and mental approach. Looking ahead, he aims to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.