Ntouskos negotiates opening heat at European qualifier for Tokyo 2020 in Varese Monday, 5 April 2021
Greece’s Stefanos Ntouskos negotiated his opening heat at the World Rowing European Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta to keep his Tokyo 2020 hopes on track in Varese.
The men s single sculls has the largest field at the qualifier with 16 nations represented, with rowers targeting one of three Tokyo 2020 berths available.
Ntouskos, who competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the lightweight coxless four, was the top ranked athlete heading into the competition.
He won his opening heat in a time of 6min 52.84sec to book his place in the semi-final stage of the qualifier.
European scullers set for Tokyo 2020 qualifier in Varese Sunday, 4 April 2021
Scullers will have one of their final opportunities to qualify for Tokyo 2020 at the World Rowing European Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta, which starts tomorrow in Varese, Italy.
The three-day event will offer qualification opportunities to European nations in the men s and women s single sculls, lightweight double sculls and PR1 men s and women s single sculls.
The men s single sculls has the largest field, with 16 nations and 11 athletes who competed at the 2020 European Rowing Championships.
They will contest the three available qualification spots for the postponed Olympic Games.
Stefanos Ntouskos of Greece, who finished fifth at the European Championships, is the highest-ranked of those involved in Varese.