Favourites advance from heats of the Munich 2022 European Championships

 

On the first day of the Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe Munich 2022 European Championships the biggest favourites for the medals of the competition performed well on the opening day.

Anja Osterman from Slovenia, Anamaria Govorcinovic from Croatia and Jule Hake from Germany were the fastest in their respective heats of the women's K1 500 metres event and they advanced directly to Sunday's final.

"It was really difficult because we were in Canada (for the world championships) about 10 days ago, so it was hard to get back in shape for this," said the Croatian kayaker who was second in this event of this year's World championships, while Jule Hake picked up bronze medal in the same final.

In men's elite 1000 metres event the first favourites for the gold Balint Kopasz from Hungary and Fernando Pimenta from Portugal won in their heats group, as did Artuur Peters in heat 3.

Germany's Jacob Schopf, Bojan Zdelar from Serbia and Hungarian kayaker Adam Varga were the fastest in men's K1 500 metres heats and they too advanced directly to the final which is on the programme this Friday.

The best in men's canoe 500 metres heats Martin Fuksa (CZE), Serghei Tarnovschi (MDA) and Catalin Chirila (ROU) set the fastest times of the heats group. "My goal for the day was go directly to the final, and the goal is done. Pretty happy to be here and compete again. I want to win every race. The gold medal is my goal every time. I will try my best and we will see," said Fuksa, who also competed in 1000 metres heats. In this event Catalin Chirila and Carlo Tacchini (ITA) produced the best times of the two heats groups.

Isabel Contreras (ESP) and Noemi Pupp (HUN) were the best in women's 1000 metres heats. In women's K2 1000 metres events crews from Hungary, Sweden, Ukraine, Poland, Spain and Germany advanced directly to the final, while in men's K2 1000 metres event German, Serbian, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian and British boats advanced to the final.

Three more events were held on the opening day, in men's C2 500 metres event Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Hungary and Italy won top three positions in their groups to get a place in the final. Slovakia, Poland, Germany set the best times in their respective groups of women's K2 500 metres heats, while in men's K2 500 metres heats Hungary, Germany and Slovakia crossed the finish line in first place of the three groups.