Vilnius (Lithuania), Aug 3 (IANS): The 2017 U-19 World Rowing Championships have begun here with 742 rowers from 59 countries and regions racing in 13 boat classes until August 6.

For the coming five days, the rowers will not only compete for medals, but also for qualification for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) for athletes of age 18 and under, since the 2017 World rowing Junior Championships is also the qualification regatta for the YOG, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the World rowing federation (FISA), 96 athletes will be selected for the YOG during the qualification.

The venue in Galve Lake Trakai is the biggest rowing competition in this eastern European country this year, the Lithuanian rowing federation announced on Wednesday,

Lithuania, a small Baltic country with a population of less than three million, is represented by 22 athletes that make up nine boats.

"The main goal is to get into the Youth Olympic Games, which will take place next year in Argentina," Dainius Pavilionis, the president of Lithuanian rowing federation, was quoted as saying in a press release.

He says he expects two Lithuanian crews to reach the finals of their respective categories and compete for medals.