Wicki and Lüthi into rowing final

Wicki (left) and Lüthi are through to Saturday's A-final Keystone

Switzerland's Caroline Lüthi and Bernadette Wicki have bounced back from their opening day disappointment at the world rowing championships in Lucerne to secure themselves a place in the final of the women's double sculls.

Lüthi and Wicki had missed out on an automatic place in the A-final after coming in fourth in their opening heat on Sunday. But in Monday’s ‘repechage’, or second chance heats, the Swiss pair showed a marked improvement to finish second behind Russia.

Narrowly ahead of the Russians after 500 metres, Lüthi and Wicki were unable to stay in front, but did succeed in beating the same Hungarian crew that had edged them out on Sunday.

There was also success for Switzerland in the men’s double sculls, with André Vornarburg and Christian Stofer coming through the repechage to grab a spot in Thursday’s semi-finals.

Vornarburg and Stofer finished third in the fastest heat of the day behind crews from Germany and Spain. None of the boats in the other two heats managed to match the Swiss pair’s time.

Tuesday’s results continue a strong showing by the Swiss boats in the Olympic class, with single scullers Xeno Müller and Pia Vogel already through to the semi-finals and finals respectively.

Wednesday could prove less fruitful though, with all four of the non-Olympic Swiss crews having to come through the repechage if they are to have any chance of making the A-finals.

swissinfo with agencies