Japanese rowers Daisuke Takeda and Takahiro Suda will give the host nation its best shot at a podium finish when world rowing championships kick off in Asia for the first time ever on Monday.
Takeda, a three-time Olympian, teams up with up-and-coming Suda in the men's lightweight double sculls and is sure to have the backing of an enthusiastic crowd at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course in Kaizu.
The competition, which was pushed forward a day due to the onslaught of Typhoon Mawar, will feature 860 athletes from 56 countries.