Qingdao WCNA athletes shine at Asian Canoe Sprint Championships

Gao Yutao (3rd from left) and Gao Yukun (4th from left) celebrate their gold medal victory. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2025 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships recently kicked off in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, with fierce competition from top athletes across Asia. The Chinese canoeing team dominated the event, leading the medal tally with an impressive 16 gold, six silver, and two bronze medals.

Among the standouts were two athletes from Qingdao West Coast New Area, Gao Yutao and Gao Yukun, who clinched gold in the Men's C2 1,000m event, continuing the area's rich tradition in water sports. Their victory highlighted Qingdao's growing prominence in international canoeing.

The tournament, authorized by the Asian Canoe Federation, attracted over 280 athletes from 19 countries and regions, competing in 24 events across multiple categories, including kayaking and canoeing. The event featured 200m, 500m, and 1,000m races.

Canoeing, an emerging water sport, has gained significant attention in recent years, with Qingdao West Coast New Area offering ideal conditions for the sport, such as wide, calm bays and deep waters. These conditions have made it a prime location for canoeing events, including the upcoming 2024 Qingdao Ocean Canoeing Challenge at Tangdao Bay.

The West Coast New Area has also been instrumental in the development of sports, fostering over 500 young athletes and producing top-tier talent who have participated in the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games, further establishing the region as a powerhouse in competitive sports.