Holly Bicknell gave Zimbabwe an encouraging start at the African Rowing Championships in Tunis today ©Peterhouse Group of Schools

The African Rowing Championships got underway today at the Tunis Lake International Development Rowing Centre in the Tunisian capital with Zimbabwe, under new coach Micheen Thornycroft, making an early impression. 

Zimbabwe's Holly Bicknell was the fastest qualifier in the junior women's singles sculls 2,000 metres, in a time of 10min 34.81 sec.

Thornycroft, who competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro before retiring following the conclusion of the Games in the Brazilian city, is the head coach of the Zimbabwean squad for the event.

She was followed by Morocco's Khawla Maskouri at 12:01:15.

In heat two, first place went to Algeria's Amira Sebbouh in 10:13:78, followed by Egypt's Maryam Abdellatif in 11:24:74.

In the third heat, top place went to Tunisia's Sarra Boulares in 10:53:88, followed by Glory Semidara from Nigeria in 13:07:39.

In the junior men's 2000 metres, first place in the opening heat went to Tunisia's Med Moemen Mejri in 09:39:59, followed by Egypt's Abdalla Eltohamy in 10:35:18.

In heat two first place went to Neil Mourad Nekkache of Algeria in 10:38:93, followed by Enrico Bouehi from the Ivory Coast in 10:44:78.

The third heat was won by Morocco's Ayoub Bousseta at 11:04:09, while in second place was Togo's Kossi Romaric Assiobo in 11:05:53.

The Championships are due to last until Sunday (October 22).