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WA Coaches Go International

Published Thu 14 May 2026

Two Western Australian rowing coaches have recently gained valuable international experience through an immersive coaching placement at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), working alongside the Hong Kong national rowing programme.
 
Javier Ronda (Fremantle Rowing Club) and Nicholas Tejchman (All Saints College) travelled to Hong Kong during April and May respectively as part of the Asian Engagement initiative. Hosted at HKSI, both coaches were embedded within the daily training environment and worked closely with the Hong Kong national team’s Head Coach.

Nick Tejchman and a member of the HKSI Rowing Team
 
During his placement, Javier supported the squad’s preparation for the Asia Cup in South Korea, while Nicholas contributed to preparations for World Cup II in Bulgaria. The experience provided both coaches with exposure to international training methodologies, high-performance systems, and the demands of elite-level competition.
 

Javier, at the Shatin River with a quad and a double

The placement was made possible through funding from the Asian Engagement Grant, provided by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen international rowing relationships and position Western Australia as a destination for overseas training and competition. Rowing WA looks forward to building on these connections, with potential opportunities to welcome the Hong Kong team to Western Australia in the lead-up to the 2027 Australian Rowing Championships.
 
While Hong Kong is still developing its presence on the world rowing stage, the facilities available at HKSI are world-class. Javier and Nicholas were accommodated within the Institute’s residential village, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the high-performance environment. Training schedules often included up to three sessions per day, offering a true insight into the intensity and structure of an international rowing programme.
 
Beyond the immediate competitive outcomes, the opportunity supports the long-term development of Western Australia’s coaching network. Gaining exposure to different coaching philosophies, cultures, and training environments plays an important role in expanding coaching knowledge and capability across the state.
 
The experiences and insights gained at HKSI will also inform the planning of future Asian Engagement Tours, as Rowing WA continues to build on relationships established during the first two years of the programme.
 
Rowing WA extends its sincere thanks to Kenny Wu, Head Coach of Rowing at HKSI, for his generous support and openness in providing this international coaching opportunity.

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