ZIMBABWE’S junior rowing coach Christine Johnson believes she has ‘fighters’ in the country’s four representatives at the World Rowing Junior Championships starting this week in Trakai, Lithuania.

Ciara Soper, Stuart Duncan, Kenneth Raynor and Keegan Smith are the country’s four rowers at the World Junior Champions running from August 2-6.

Johnson told The Sunday Mail that the quartet have worked hard for this regatta.

“It has been a very tough last couple of months of training,” she said.

“The rowers have worked hard and pushed hard.  We have just been more focused, as they know how important this regatta is and just want to do their best.”

She has expressed confidence in her team she described as ‘excited’ to be at this global competition.                       

“The rowers are so excited to be here and are looking forward to racing.                       

“We are looking forward to being competitive, racing well and giving our best. It is going to be a tough four days racing, but we are prepared for it and are going to race hard.

“They are determined and really want to give their best, they push hard to achieve their best and will fight for the best results they can possibly achieve,” she said.

She added that they will be using the next few days before the start of the competition to acclimatize and familiarize with the competition’s course.                     

“Our last few days of training is all about rest and getting to know the course. We need the rowers to be fresh and ready for racing.

The Chisipite student Soper, who  holds the record for the highest finishing position (15th) for Zimbabwe at the World Junior Championship after her performance in Netherlands in 2016, is expected to star in the JW1x (Junior Womens Single).

Duncan (St Georges) will compete in the JM1x (Junior Mens Single) while the Peterhouse duo of Kenneth Raynor and Keegan Smith will compete in the JM2x (Junior Mens Double).