Liudmyla Babak of Ukraine and Melina Andersson of Sweden once again stole the show in the Canoe Marathon as Canoe Polo started superbly at the 2024 International Canoe Federation Hangzhou Super Cup.
Babak and Andersson earned one more gold medal each, a day after winning the short-distance titles.
A timing of 1:14:23 was enough for the Ukrainian to seal the women’s C1 long-distance title in Hangzhou.
It was not an easy task with the Chinese duo of Yahui Cao and Ying Wang applying pressure until the very end.
In the end, the seven-time world champion’s experience prevailed, as Cao settled silver and Wang got bronze.
“I feel perfect and now I can finally relax. The season is over. The race was difficult today and the Chinese were very strong,” Babak said.
The women’s K1 long-distance saw the rivalry between Andersson and Hungarian Vanda Kiszli intensify, with the Swede doing the double like at the World Championships in Metkovic recently.
Andersson came out on top in 1:11:30, with the Hungarian claiming silver and Serbian Krisztina Bedocs pipping short-distance bronze medallist Eva Barrios of Spain for third place.
The men’s C1 long-distance race was won by Balazs Adolf of Hungary. The C1 gold medallist over the long and short distances at the World Championships in 2021 clocked 1:26:02 for the title.
“It was a game of tactics. We aimed to get off the start as fast as we could and then grow our difference from the others. My pace was better on the last lap, so I got away,” the Hungarian said.
Jaime Duro also added to his tally from yesterday, winning silver while the last podium position went to compatriot Manuel Antonio Campos.
The first day of Canoe Polo decided the semi-final line-up with Great Britain set to face Spain and New Zealand facing reigning world champions Germany among men.
Spanish women will face Germany for a place in the final while the second women’s semi-final will see Great Britain battle it out with New Zealand.
It was not an easy start for the higher-ranked British men, who suffered a shock 5-2 defeat against New Zealand.
However, the exciting new format at the Super Cup meant they had a chance to qualify for the next round and they made the most of it by crushing Chinese Taipei 6-2.
They were challenged yet again in the quarter-final by a spirited and lower-ranked Japanese side, but the Brits held on to edge the game 5-4.
The upset of the day was ninth-ranked Switzerland men failing to qualify after losing to Spain 4-3 in the first round before Japan sent them packing with a sensational 6-3 victory.
It was business as usual for the top ranked Germans among men and women, winning both their matches with ease.
With the International Canoe Federation Canoe Polo World Championships, beginning in Deqing on Tuesday, they are well-placed to defend their titles.
Medallists from day two
Men's C1 long-distance
1. Balazs Adolf
2. Jaime Duro
Women's C1 long-distance
2. Yahui Cao
3. Ying Wang
Women's K1 long-distance
2. Vanda Kiszli
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