Megha Pradeep received a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Canoe Dash Olympic Qualifiers in the women’s C1-500m class, clocking a timing of 02:28.027, held at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday.
Diep Thi Huong of Vietnam and Ulyana Kisseleva gained the gold and silver medals respectively in the similar class. It is one of the three non-Olympic categories at the occasion.
This party, doubling up as the Paris Olympics qualifying party and the Dash Championships began on April 18 and will conclude on April 21. Six out of the 9 groups double up as qualifying groups for the future Paris Olympics.
India has fielded 13 athletes for the party, of whom only 10 are competing in the Olympic qualifying types. So far only one particular podium finish has been secured, that too in the non-Olympic group.
The best two boats in the men’s and women’s K1 and C1 functions and the best boat in the men’s and women’s K2 and C2 gatherings from the lot will safe Olympic quotas. It is noteworthy that India has as a result far hardly ever competed in a canoe party at the Summer time Olympics.
Only the Men’s K1-1000m and C1-1000m along with the combined K2-500m finals are remaining in the party. The heats are scheduled for Saturday while the semifinals and finals are scheduled for Sunday.
Gyaneshwor Singh Philem will signify India in the C1-1000m classification and Varinder Singh will contend in the K1-1000m category.