China’s Li Li stunned Ukraine’s Liudmyla Babak and Denmark’s Philip Knudsen emerged victorious as Bazhong staged a thrilling International Canoe Federation Canoe Marathon World Cup.
Thousands of fans lined the banks of the Jialing River to see top-class marathon action unfold over the past two days.
Babak, who holds seven world titles, was the biggest name in the field but she was denied gold in Bazhong.
Roared on by the local crowd. home paddler Li secured the women’s canoe single long distance crown in 1:26:36.975.
Babak had to settle with silver after crossing in 1:27:09.014.
She was sandwiched between two Chinese paddlers as Meng Luo posted 1:27:32.064 for bronze.
Hungary enjoyed a stellar World Cup, picking up three gold medals.
Peter Soltesz led the Hungarian charge by clinching the men’s C1 long distance title in 1:17:37.510.
Spain’s Fernando Busto Bandin finished in 1:17:47.556 for silver, while Mihaly Pluszik joined compatriot Soltesz on the podium after placing third in 1:18:17.039.
Panna Csepe was another Hungarian winner as she powered to the women’s K1 long distance title after registering a time of 1:29:53.791.
The silver medal went to Denmark’s Pernille Kuijers Hostrup who posted 1:30.02.542, while Czechia’s Katerina Milova bagged bronze in 1:30:17.512.
Denmark’s Knudsen, the two-time U23 world champion, overcame Hungary’s Balint Noe to seal the men’s kayak single long distance title.
The Dane struck gold in 1:20:46.158, pushing Noe in the silver medal position after crossing in 1:20:46.496.
Csanad Sellyei was another Hungarian medal winner as he claimed bronze in 1:20:47.966 to see off Great Britain’s reigning European champion James Russell.
Denmark’s Kuijers Hostrup struck gold in the women’s K1 short race final with a time of 15:37.271.
Hungary’s Panna Sinko came home in 15:37.675 for silver, while the bronze medal went to Czechia’s Milova who registered 15:42.765.
China’s Xinghong Li emerged victorious in the women’s C1 short race, triumphing in 18:12.637.
Li got the better of France’s Yseline Huet who posted 18:23.547 for silver, while Hungary’s Lili Sara Matkovics crossed the finish line in 18:34.744 for bronze.
Spain’s Busto Bandin came out on top in the men’s C1 short race after clocking 3:54.153.
Hungary’s Soltesz clinched silver in 3:51.368, while AIN paddler Roman Erlinekov registered 3:58.640 for bronze.
There was a Hungarian one-two in the men’s K1 short race final as Noe got the better of Csanad Sellyei.
Noe came home in 13:33.969 to seal gold as Sellyei earned silver in 13:35.295 and Great Britain’s Russell picked up bronze in 13:45.079.
Click here for results from Bazhong
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