The first day of the four-day canoe/ kayak flatwater China Open
went smoothly with top athletes from 27 countries and regions vied
hard for best results in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in
Beijing on Thursday.
The first day saw heats of eight events in flatwater racing.
World-famous athletes like German Andreas Dittmer, Chinese Yang
Wenjun and Russian Maxim Opalev took part in the competition.
The Chinese team performed quite well in the first day. Yang
Wenjun finished second in the heat 2 of the men's canoe single (C1)
500m with a result of 1:59.62. Many other Chinese athletes also
entered semifinals.
During the day, there were one capsize and one false start.
Mongolian Uuganjargal Tsetsgee got a boat capsize in the middle of
the racing water ending her competition in the women's kayak single
(K1) 500m.
Another thing worthy of mention is that two Olympic canoe/kayak
gold medalists gave thumbs to the venue after winning tickets to
finals in the China Open on Thursday.
Eirik Larsen, champion of the men's kayak single (K1) 1,000m in
Athens' Olympic Games, finished in second place in heat 2.
"The water park is nice and everything here is nice. I've been
to the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games, but the venue here is the
best," said Larsen.
The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park is the venue for the
rowing, canoe/kayak slalom and flatwater and marathon swimming
events in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and rowing events in the
Paralympic Games.
"The competition is fierce. It's Ok to enter the finals on
Saturday as the top three because I didn't perform 100 percent of
my ability today."
"I hope I can win the gold, but my bigger dream is to win the
gold medal in next year's Olympic Games," the Norwegian said.
Andreas Dittmen, champion on the 1,000m course in Sydney and
500m course in Athens, also qualified for final after finishing
second in heat two of the C1 1,000m race.
Dittmen said in the mixed zone: "I like the course. The water is
clear and warm and that is good for speed."
"The competition is very tough as athletes from Russia, Hungary
and China are very strong, but I'm very satisfied with the result
as I came here only two days ago. I still don't get used to the
course very well." the German said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2007)