The Asian Rowing community gathered in Pattaya, Thailand, in late May and early June for a comprehensive programme of coach education, youth development, technical officiating and competition, underlining the region’s strong and coordinated commitment to the growth of Beach Sprint.
World Rowing Regional Coastal Level 1 Course for Coaches
The programme opened with a World Rowing Regional Coastal Level 1 Course for Coaches, combining four online preparatory sessions with three days of in-person learning from 28 to 30 May.
Ten coaches (four female, six male) from five Asian Federations (Thailand, Hong Kong, Saudia Arabia, Malaysia and Vietnam) took part, developing both theoretical knowledge and practical on-water skills specific to coastal rowing and Beach Sprint. The blended delivery format ensured that participants arrived well-prepared and were able to maximise their time on the water.
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Regional Youth Training Camp
Immediately following the coaching course, a Regional Youth Training Camp brought together 15 athletes (five female, ten male) from eight Federations (Thailand, Iraq, Saudia Arabia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka). The ten newly trained coaches participated alongside an additional six experienced coaches, creating a collaborative and dynamic environment that supported learning at all levels.
The camp focused on the specific demands of training and racing in coastal conditions. Safety remained a central priority throughout, with sessions covering risk assessment, session planning, swimming competency, capsize procedures and rescue techniques. This holistic approach ensured that both athletes and coaches strengthened not only performance-related skills but also essential safety awareness.
Beach Sprint Technical Delegate Training
Alongside the coaching and athlete development activities, a Beach Sprint Technical Delegate training course was delivered, with 11 participants attending from Thailand, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Saudia Arabia . This component played an important role in strengthening the pool of qualified officials in the region, ensuring that Beach Sprint competitions are delivered to World Rowing standards and disseminating event organization knowledge in the region.
By developing technical expertise in parallel with coaching and athlete pathways, the programme supports a more sustainable and structured growth of the discipline across Asia, reinforcing both quality and consistency in event delivery.
Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships
The programme culminated in the Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships, held from 4 to 7 June. Fourteen Federations competed across 15 events, with all five Asian sub-regions represented: East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia.
Host nation Thailand topped the medal table, winning six gold, three silver and four bronze medals. Encouragingly, 11 of the 14 participating Federations returned home with at least one medal, highlighting the increasing depth and competitiveness of Beach Sprint across the region.
With Beach Sprint set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games and its inclusion in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, this represents a key moment for its development. The strong engagement seen in Pattaya reflects the growing momentum of the discipline across Asia and its expanding appeal.
Acknowledgements
The coaching course and training camp were led by Mr Chris Perry, World Rowing Development Lead Expert for Asia, supported by World Rowing coach educators Mr Sam Wong, Ms Wimonrad Maensittirote and Mr Keith Lam. The Beach Sprint Technical Delegates Training was lead by Mr. Victor Ng, World Rowing Educator and Events Commission Member. World Rowing Continental Representative Ms Fay Ho OLY was also in attendance throughout.
World Rowing extends its sincere thanks to Olympic Solidarity, the Rowing and Canoeing Association of Thailand (RCAT) and the Thai National Olympic Committee for their excellent hosting and support, as well as to the Asian Rowing Federation for enabling these development activities to be delivered alongside the Championships.
