Chinese paddlers sail into canoe sprint final at Hangzhou Asiad

Zhang Dong in action during the men's canoe sprint kayak single 1000m heat at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

Chinese paddlers had a good Saturday in the the Asian Games' canoe sprint competition, sailing into the final.

HANGZHOU, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- All Chinese paddlers cruised into the final on the first day of the Asian Games' canoe sprint competition on Saturday.

Zhang Dong, gold medalist at the 2018 Jakarta Asiad, finished his men's kayak single 1000m heat in first place with three minutes and 47.118 seconds, directly booking a berth in the final, while Shakhriyor Makhkamov of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan's Rodion Tuigunov took second and third places respectively, also advancing to the final.

China's Bu Tingkai and Wang Congkang crossed the line first in the men's kayak double 500m heat in 1:35.568.

Ji Bowen made it to the final by finishing first in his heat in the men's canoe single 1000m, clocking 4:12.524.

"I am glad to win the heat today. I expect to win the gold in the final, but I need to handle the wind better at Fuyang the day after tomorrow," Ji said.

Yin Mengdie and Wang Nan (R) in action during the women's kayak double 500m heat. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

Yin Mengdie and Wang Nan also made to the final in women's kayak double 500m by finishing their heat first.

"After some pre-race adjustments I realized it would be our best day to race today. My mother will be here until the end of the competition, so I hope I can win both of my events for her," Wang said.

Liu Hao, gold medalist at the 2019 World Championships, withdrew from the men's canoe double 500m heat with his teammate due to injury.

The canoe and kayak competitions, with 12 golds on offer, run from September 30 to October 3 at Fuyang Water Sports Center. ■