Chinese rower blames poor memory after missing heat

Chinese rower blames poor memory after missing heat

Beijing - Chinese rower Zhang Liang blamed poor memory after he missed his men's single sculls heat on Saturday and was automatically disqualified for the following double sculls heat.

Zhang said he thought he was scheduled to compete in the day's third heat after he missed his start in the second heat, the government's Xinhua news agency quoted a senior sports official as saying.

"He thought he was in the next heat," Wei Di, the director of China's water sports governing body, told the agency.

"This shows we still have some problems in team organization," Wei said.

By Olympic rowing rules Zhang's disqualification also cost him and his partner Su Hui their place in the double sculls later Saturday. (dpa)