The road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins in Hefei, China, as the Asian Canoe Sprint Championships from 24–26 April mark the first opportunity for athletes to secure Olympic Ranking Points in the new cycle.
Bringing together some of the region’s top canoe sprint talent from more than 15 countries and territories, the Championships offer an early-season test and a key benchmark for teams aiming to build momentum toward LA28.
Olympic gold medallist Bowen Ji and two-time Olympic champion in the women’s C2, Mengya Sun, headline a strong lineup confirmed for Hefei.
They are joined by fellow home contender Xin Quan, the Asian Games gold medallist, further strengthening the host nation’s presence.
Japan will also be well represented, with Takuya Haneda – an Olympic bronze medallist from Rio – competing alongside three-time Olympian Kazuki Yazawa.
India’s Prachi Yadav, who made history as the first paracanoeist to represent her country at the Paralympic Games, is set to be on the start line.
Set between the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, Hefei provides an ideal backdrop for elite competition.
Racing will take place at the Anhui Sports Administration Centre, a world-class venue featuring dedicated training and competition watercourses.
Since 2023, the centre has hosted multiple national-level events and youth training camps, playing a growing role in the development of the sport.
A full programme of men’s and women’s events will be contested, including canoe and kayak singles and doubles over 200m, 500m, 1000m, and 5000m.
The 500m events will also feature K4 races, alongside mixed-gender canoe and kayak double events over 500m.
With the Olympic cycle now underway, National Federations are encouraged to confirm participation at the earliest opportunity and ensure their athletes do not miss this important opening event.
Numerical entries close on March 10, while nominal entries conclude on April 14.
Entries can be submitted via the official portal: https://icf.mev.atos.net/icf/main.jsp
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