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)