Self-belief helps HK rower win gold at Asian Games

Hong Kong rower Chiu Hin-chun credited self-belief for winning gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya, topping the lightweight men’s single sculls with a time of six minutes and 50.32 seconds. The victory marked his first gold medal at the Games, following silver in Jakarta in 2018 and bronze in Hangzhou in 2023. Chiu acknowledged that South Korea’s Park Hyun-su had won bronze against them in Indonesia earlier, but he had learned from that experience.

He vowed to claim the champion title if given the chance, which he did this time by making a decisive move in the final 1,000 meters, winning by more than two seconds. Chiu emphasized the importance of mental preparation and training to perform under pressure, stating that he knew he would catch up if he fell behind, especially in the second half of the race.

Self-belief played a crucial role in his success. Despite being an Asian Games and Olympian champion, Chiu remains focused on improving his rowing technique and mental preparation, aiming for qualification in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.