Asian Canoe Confederation activities Q2 2025

Smooth Execution in Nanchang 
The Asian Canoe Sprint Championships took place in Nanchang, China, from May 8 to 10, 2025, at the Yaohu International Aquatic Sports Center. Approximately 280 elite canoe and kayak paddlers from 19 countries participated in the event. In conjunction with the championships, an International Technical Official (ITO) seminar and examination were held, with 16 ITOs from China, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, Macau China, and Kazakhstan taking part. Despite challenges posed by strong winds, the organisers successfully ensured the smooth execution of the competition. 

The Great Two Continents with One Vision  
The 2025 Asia Pacific Sprint Cup was held from May 9 to 11, 2025, at Lake Kiba in Komatsu, Japan. Six countries – Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and India – participated in the event. The facilities at the venue were highly convenient for all athletes and participating teams, offering particular support for the development of junior-level competitors. The Organizing Committee performed commendably, providing timely updates and making clear, effective decisions throughout the event. 

Asian Games confirmation  
The 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia was staged on May 12, 2025, at Alyasmine Hall in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Kuwait. During the assembly, representatives from the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games provided updates in the conference room, confirming the inclusion of canoe sports in the Games. The confirmed canoe sprint events are: 

Canoe Slalom

Canoe Sprint

Annual Development Camp  
The 2025 ICF x ACC Canoe Sprint Development Camp brought together participants from nine countries: Romania, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Tajikistan, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam. A total of 27 individuals took part in the camp, including two coordinators, seven coaches from various National Federations, and 16 athletes. This development camp served as a valuable opportunity for the ongoing growth of talented canoe sprint athletes across Asia. Thailand’s National Federation generously hosted the camp once again this year. Seven Asian member countries accepted the invitation to participate, and the camp received significant support from the ICF, which sent two expert coaches: Nichita Sergan from Romania, specialising in canoe, and Coach Kai Wen Ong from Singapore, specialising in kayak. 

An Important Stage of the Year 
The 2025 Asian Canoe Sprint Junior and U23 Championships were hosted in Thailand from June 12 to 15, 2025, providing an invaluable platform for emerging athletes to showcase their potential through high-level competition. Sixteen countries participated in the event: Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tajikistan, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Approximately 500 athletes and officials attended the championships, reflecting the strong regional interest and support for the development of Canoe Sprint at the junior and U23 levels. 

Paracanoe Paddlers Shine  
The Asian Paracanoe Championships saw participation from six countries: hosts Thailand, Iran, India, Singapore, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. It was attended by John Edwards, Chair of the ICF Paracanoe Committee, along with the ICF Paracanoe classifier team, which included Tetsu Sakamitsu from Japan and Cindy Davis from Australia. In total, there were 61 Asian Paracanoe participants, highlighting the growing interest and involvement in paracanoe across the region. 

Participation in Major Regional Games 
Malaysia has been officially designated as the host of the 34th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In preparation for the event, we held discussions with representatives from the Malaysian National Olympic Committees to advocate for the inclusion of canoe sports in the Games. These discussions proceeded smoothly and successfully established a framework to support the inclusion of canoe water sports, ensuring that the discipline remains a part of the Olympic programme within the regional context. 

By Chainarong Charoenruk, President of the Asian Canoe Confederation