China, New Zealand set to light up Beijing rowing

LONDON (Reuters) - With all three pre-Olympic rowing World Cup regattas now concluded, the sport will turn its full attention to Beijing where China, New Zealand, Britain and Germany look like the nations to beat.

Britain topped the medals table after the three World Cups in Munich, Lucerne and Poznan, but they will face fierce competition from the Chinese who finished in third place behind Germany despite only competing in two of the regattas.

Britain got their campaign off to a great start in Munich, winning five of the 14 Olympic events but they stumbled in Lucerne, picking up only one gold, while their lead boat, the men's coxless four, failed to make the final for the first time in over 10 years.

The men's four has traditionally been one of Britain's strongest boats, winning Olympic gold in both Athens and Sydney with Matthew Pinsent, and in Sydney Steve Redgrave, on board.

But the crew this year has been hit by injury and changes to the starting line-up.

After winning comfortably at the opening World Cup in Munich, they were only eighth in Lucerne before finishing second with the preferred line-up in Poznan, behind the Netherlands but without medal contenders Australia or the United States present.

The other British crews likely to contest for gold medals in Beijing include the three-times world champions and top women's boat, the quad, and the men's lightweight double scull which won all three World Cups this year.

The British men's single scull, double scull and eight are also likely to push for medals.

The Chinese will also enter their home Olympics as favorites in several categories after another impressive season in Europe.

EIGHT GOLDS

They picked up eight gold medals across the two World Cups they contested, including two in the women's pair, two in the women's double and two in the lightweight men's four. They also beat Britain to win gold in the women's quad in Lucerne.

But the best story of the Games could fall to New Zealand where former 2000 Olympic single sculling champion Rob Waddell has returned to the sport to contest the men's double scull with Nathan Cohen.

Waddell, who came back last year after seven years away from the sport with the America's Cup sailing campaigns, moved into the double after losing a high-profile and televised race off for New Zealand's single scull slot against three-times world champion Mahe Drysdale.

Drysdale won silver in Lucerne and gold in Poznan while Waddell's double won the two World Cups they contested.

The other boats from New Zealand likely to compete for the medals are the men's pair which will be up against Australia and Canada, the women's double sculls with sisters Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, and the world champion men's coxless four.

Germany will start as medal contenders in the women's pair, women's double, lightweight women's double, men's quad and the women's quad.

The final events of the men's and women's eights are likely to be contested by the traditional heavyweight nations of the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and China for the men and the same nations plus Romania for the women.

(Editing by Dave Thompson)