WELLINGTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's triple world champion Mahe Drysdale on Sunday won the first of three trial races to decide who will represent New Zealand in the men's single sculls at the Beijing Olympics in August. Drysdale won the 2000-meter race by a boat length at Lake Karapiro on Sunday, Radio New Zealand reported. The battle between Drysdale, 26, and former Olympic champion Rob Waddell, 33, has gone all summer, with Waddell winning three of their previous four clashes. Both were level at the half way point. The second trial race will be held on Monday. Only one can represent New Zealand in the single sculls event. Waddell announced a comeback to rowing late last year after being a member of the Team New Zealand America's Cup defense team in 2003 and the challenger team in 2007. He is a double world champion and won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000. The selection will be decided by the Olympic Committee. An announcement is due next Friday. There is hope the loser of the duel could still go to Beijing as part of one of another rowing combination.
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