Paris Paralympics 2024 Para-Canoe Heats: Yash Kumar, Prachi Yadav, and Pooja Ojha through to semi-finals
Indian para-canoe athletes Yash Kumar, Prachi Yadav, and Pooja Ojha took part in their respective heats at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, aiming to secure spots in the semi-finals of their events. Despite facing stiff competition from some of the world’s best athletes, all three Indian participants managed to advance to the next stage.
Yash Kumar competed in the Men’s Kayak Single 200m KL1 event, finishing sixth in his heat. Meanwhile, Prachi Yadav participated in the Women’s Va’a Single 200m VL2, finishing fourth, while Pooja competed in the Women’s Kayak Single 200m KL1, finishing fifth. All three athletes will move forward to the semi-finals.
Individual Performances:
Men’s Kayak Single 200m KL1 – Yash Kumar
Yash Kumar competed in Heat 1 of the Men’s Kayak Single 200m KL1. Despite finishing sixth and last in his heat with a time of 1:03.27, Kumar secured a spot in the semi-finals. The winner of the heat, Luis Carlos Cardoso from Brazil, clocked an impressive 49.12, securing direct qualification to Final A.
Kumar will aim for improvement in the semifinals as he battles for a place in the finals.
Women’s VA'A Single 200m VL2 – Prachi Yadav
In the Women’s Va’a Single 200m VL2, Prachi Yadav faced a competitive field in Heat 1, finishing in fourth place with a time of 1:06.83. She progressed to the semi-finals but will need to improve her timing to challenge for a spot in the final. Emma Wiggs from Great Britain dominated the heat, winning with a time of 1:00.95.
Women’s Kayak Single 200m KL1 – Pooja Ojha
Pooja Ojha raced in Heat 2 of the Women’s Kayak Single 200m KL1 event, where she finished in fifth place, clocking 1:16.09. Despite her last-place finish, Ojha advanced to the semi-finals, where she will look to improve her performance. Ukraine's Maryna Mazhula won the heat with a time of 54.85.
Results Summary: Paris Paralympics 2024 Para-Canoe Heats
Men’s Kayak Single 200m KL1 Heat 1:
Luis Carlos Cardoso (Brazil) – 49.12 (Qualified for Final A)
Robert Suba (Hungary) – 52.03 (Qualified for Semi-final)
Esteban Gabriel Farias (Italy) – 52.42 (Qualified for Semi-final)
Adrian Castano Forteza (Spain) – 58.13 (Qualified for Semi-final)
Yuta Takagi (Japan) – 1:03.09 (Qualified for Semi-final)
Yash Kumar (India) – 1:03.27 (Qualified for Semi-final)
Women’s VA'A Single 200m VL2 Heat 1:
Emma Wiggs (Great Britain) – 1:00.95
Debora Ribeiro Benevides (Brazil) – 1:04.62
Iroda Rustamova (Uzbekistan) – 1:05.56
Prachi Yadav (India) – 1:06.83 (Qualified for Semi-final)
Irati Felipe (Spain) – 1:11.35
Dora Boldizsar (Hungary) – 1:13.07
Women’s Kayak Single 200m KL1 Heat 2:
Maryna Mazhula (Ukraine) – 54.85
Edina Müller (Germany) – 55.27
Eleonora De Paolis (Italy) – 1:00.94
Monika Seryk (Poland) – 1:06.17
Pooja Ojha (India) – 1:16.09 (Qualified for Semi-final)