Image Credit: World Rowing
2023 Champions: Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy (Ireland)
Entries: 4
With the lightweight doubles removed from the Olympic program, the number of entries in this event has declined significantly. However, these four crews should be quite competitive in their hunt for medals—tune in for a lively race.
Man Sun of China is the most decorated in the field – he is a 2016 Olympian in this event, placing 11th, and the 2017 world bronze medallist. In 2021, he missed Olympic qualification by one place at FOQR. More recently, Sun placed 17th and 12th respectively in the 2022 and 2023 lightweight doubles, also picking up a competitive silver in the lightweight quad at the 2022 World Rowing Championships. His partner, Yawei Li, is making his international debut – winning a medal in front of a home crowd would be a spectacular first outing.
Joachim Agne also has ten years of international racing under his belt, primarily in the lightweight quad. He won bronze or silver at every World Rowing Championships from 2022 to 2024 and took the world title in 2018. Agne raced the lightweight single in 2021, placing fifth at the European Rowing Championships and at World Rowing Cup II, along with a silver medal at World Rowing Cup I. Paul Maissenhaelter has only raced the U23 lightweight quad, winning the 2023 European title and 2024 world title (although both were two-boat races).
Indonesia are fresh off a 17th place (out of 21) in the heavyweight double in Varese – an excellent showing for this lightweight crew. Ali Mardiansyah debuted in Varese, and it was Rafiq Wijdan Yasir’s second international race following a 24th place at the 2023 World Rowing Cup III.
Georgia’s Giorgi Kanteladze is the most experienced in the field, with 12 years of racing experience. Starting off in the lightweight single, his best result was 20th at the 2023 World Rowing Championship. He has recently switched to the lightweight pair with Davit Lashkareishvili, placing fifth at the 2024 World Rowing Championship and winning silver (out of four boats) at the 2025 European Rowing Championships.
Prediction
China to take gold at their home Championships, Indonesia for silver, and Germany for bronze.
