India Reach Asian Games Kayak Four Final

India’s Varinder Singh, Naocha Singh Laitonjam, Oinam Arun Singh and Harshwardhan Singh Shaktawat qualified for the Final A of the men’s Kayak Four 500m event at the Asian Games here on Wednesday.

The Indian crew finished third in Heat 1 with a timing of 1:29.447, trailing winners China by 5.594 seconds. Kyrgyzstan finished second in the heat.

The result secured India a place in the medal race as the canoe sprint competition continued at the Asian Games.

Megha Pradeep Advances In Canoe Single

Megha Pradeep also progressed to the semifinals in the women’s Canoe Single 200m.

She finished fifth among six competitors in her heat with a timing of 49.675 seconds.

The top three competitors from the heats advanced directly to the final, while the remaining athletes progressed to the semifinals based on the qualification format.

Three More Indian Crews Make Semifinals

India also secured semifinal berths in three other events.

Soniya Devi Phairembam and Parvathy Geetha finished sixth in Heat 1 of the women’s Kayak Double 500m, clocking 2:03.538.

In the men’s Kayak Double 500m, Prasanna Kumar Sathyaprakash Chempadiyil and Prohit Baroi finished fifth in Heat 2 with a time of 1:41.141 to advance to the semifinals.

Megha and Neha Devi Leichonbam also progressed in the women’s Canoe Double 500m after finishing fifth in Heat 2 with a timing of 2:08.713.

India will now look to convert its strong qualification showing into medals as the canoe sprint events progress at the Asian Games.