116 athletes participate in the national canoeing race
The 2011 National Club Canoeing Championship officially kicked off on the morning of April 13 at the West Lake Boat Racing Club (Hanoi).
This year, the green race attracted 116 male and female athletes from 15 provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ben Tre, Binh Thuan and Ho Chi Minh City.
Rowers compete for 10 sets of medals in the 200m, 500m and 1,000m distances of Canoeing and Kayak.
At the 2010 National Club Canoeing Championship.
Illustration photo: VNA
Despite many changes in personnel and a rejuvenated squad, host Hanoi - the team that won the overall title in 2010 and has many rowers playing for the national team - is still considered the number 1 candidate for this year's tournament. Competing for the top spot of Hanoi's team are strong, traditional rowing centers such as Hai Phong and Binh Thuan.
However, the remaining Canoeing teams also participating in the tournament with quite strong athletes will be a big challenge and obstacle for the gold medal ambitions of rowers from Hanoi, Hai Phong and Binh Thuan.
The fierce competition on the green track was demonstrated right from the qualifying rounds of the Canoeing and Kayak events on the morning of April 13.
The quartet Nguyen Viet Chinh, Nguyen Viet Chan, Nguyen Van Vu, Tran Thanh Tinh from Binh Thuan competed in the 1,000m K4 event and tried very hard to overcome opponents from Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hung Yen.
Female rowers Kieu Thi Hao (Hanoi) and Nguyen Thi Mai (Hai Phong) were only half a boat ahead of female athletes from Thai Nguyen, Thai Binh, and Ha Nam on the 1,000m K1 race.
The tournament ends on April 15.
According to VNA
