Canoeing

Diệp Thị Hương of Việt Nam on the top podium of the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships' women's C1 500m on April 19 in Japan. Photo Việt Nam Sports Team

HÀ NỘI -- Diệp Thị Hương beat strong rivals to win gold medal at the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships on April 19 in Japan.

Hương was against powerful competitors from Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Korea and the hosts in the final eight of the women's C1 500m at the Sea Forest Waterway, Tokyo.

She finished first in a time of 2min 18.178sec, leaving her nearest rival Kisseleva Ulyana of Kazakhstan more than 8sec behind.

Megha Pradee of India came at third with a time of 02:28.027.

Hương will group with teammate Dương Anh Đức in the upcoming mixed C2 500m event.

The event is also the continental qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. However, the C1 500m and mixed C2 500m categories are not Olympic sports this July.

Việt Nam have representatives vying for Olympic spots in two events.

SEA Games champion Nguyễn Thị Hương is expected to secure her first ever Olympic spot in the C1 200m, before being grouped with Nguyễn Hồng Thái in the C2 500m later.

The Asian competitions will end on April 21. VNS