Chinese rower Zhang Liang was disqualified in men's double sculls after missing men's single sculls, citing he thought he was in the next heat?on Saturday.
Zhang Liang failed to appear in the second heat of men's single sculls, citing he thought he was in the third. He was therefore disqualified in his second event men's double sculls.
According to an official communication issued by the Jury of world rowing governing body FISA: "The qualification rules for the 2008 Olympic regatta require that the rowers qualifying in a certain event at the three continental Olympic qualification regattas and the final Olympic qualification regatta in Poznan, must participate in that event if they participate at the Olympic Games. CHN M1x Liang Zhang did not compete in the Heat, and under Olympic qualification rules is therefore not eligible to compete in the M2x in which he was also entered."
Wei Di, director of China's water sports governing body, told Xinhua that Zhang explained that he wrongly remembered his heat.
"He thought he was in the next heat,"said Wei."This shows we still have some problems in team organization."
Zhang's disqualification cost his M2x partner Su Hui a victim.
Zhang earned men's singles berth in Shanghai's Asian Olympic qualifier in April and men's doubles in the last Olympic qualifier in Poznan of Poland in June. The duo finished first in the event in Poznan.
According to Liang Xing, judge of the Olympic regatta, if Zhang came to the lane at the starting line within two minutes, he will just receive a warning but will still be granted a competition place.
(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)