The race was won by Bajrang Lal Takhar, who gave India its second gold of the games. China took the featured men’s eights while Eri Wakai of Japan won the women’s lightweight single sculls on the final day of rowing competition.
Hamarasheid, one of five Iraqi rowers at the Asian Games, said when he told his friends two years ago that he would one day compete at the Olympics in rowing, they weren’t sure whether to believe him.
“They were very surprised that there was such a sport in Iraq,” Hamarasheid said. “The bronze medal has come at a good time, I will be in the newspaper and on the TV back home. People will start to know me and more importantly, start to know about rowing.” He said he trained twice a day in the river and had a good support team.
“I have to thank my teammates and coach. We are like a family. When I train late, they wait for me,” he said.
“When they train late, I wait for them.” Belgian-based Steven Wong, who represents Hong Kong, won the BMX cycling gold in a time of 30.37 seconds, about a second ahead of the minor medalists from Japan, Akifumi Sakamoto and Masahiro Sampei. Ma Liyun won the women’s race.
“It’s not an easy track,” Wong said of Friday’s race.
“When I sprinted in the last section of the lap, I almost fell down.” Wong said he’ll compete at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Yes, I will,” he said. “Since I’ve won so many big events, such as the Asian Cup, it’s time for me to move on.” In other early results Friday, the seventh day of competition at the games, Indonesia and China won the men’s and women’s 500-meter Straight dragon boat race, respectively.
