Szeged | International Canoe Federation - First day of the 2013 Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, Hungary. While some Hungarians seem to be thinking about their national selections in two weeks, power players from Germany and Russia proved to be as competitive as ever.

Almost two years have passed since the last World Championships here in Szeged and smiles were on all faces this Friday for the opening of the first World Cup of the season. Paddlers always enjoy coming back to the Mecca of Canoe Sprint and balmy weather greeted them at the National Olympic Watersports Centre.

The Women were the first to meet each other in semi-finals this afternoon in the K1 500m. If some favorites like Teresa PORTELA (POR), Rachel CAWTHORN (GBR) or Krisztina FAZEKAS (HUN) surprisingly did not make the cut, the final promises to be interesting. The two Germans DIETZE and WAGNER-AUSTIN looked strong, as did the Hungarian KOZAK, her former teammate RUZICIC, now paddling for Serbia, and the Russian SERGEEVA.

“I'm curious to see the outcome of the effort put in the past few months”

“Most recently the emphasis was on the single events, explains the reigning Olympic champion KOZAK. We have spent a great deal of time and energy with the 500m events and as a novelty, with the K-1 200m distance, which is sort of an experimental event for me. There are a lot of interesting if not downright funny sprint training sessions behind me and I'm curious to see the outcome of the effort put in the past few months”. Her partner in K2 was less enthusiatic: “I don't know what happened. The boat was just not there under me. Whether it was because of my illness or because of the wind, or maybe perhaps got stuck on it...? It's a question I also ask of myself too. I was powerless and I am a bit disappointed now”, explained Krisztina Fazekas-Zur who can correct this freckle with the K-4 on Saturday.

In the K2 500m Women, The Russian pair SOBETOVA/PODOLSKAVA, half of the K4 present in London Olympics, made a strong impression in the heats Friday morning and will be the one to beat in the Final tomorrow, along with the favorites and 2008 Olympic champions MIKOLAJCZIK/KONIECZNA (POL).

The K1 Men kilometer never disappoints, and apart from the no-show of Swedish superstar GUSTAFSSON (victim of a chest infection but hoping to compete in Racice next week), the favorites held their own. Olympic bronze medalist Max HOFF (GER), YURENIA (BLR), and TOMISEVIC (SRB) went through the day easily, while WALLACE (AUS) and HOLTEN-POULSEN (DEN) joined them in the Final. It will be also interesting to follow the two Hungarians GERE and SZALAI, who both look in very good shape, in front of their home crowd.

A duel VAJDA-BRENDEL awaited by all

On the same distance, the C1 men specialists, reigning Olympic champion Sebastian BRENDEL and the national hero Attila VAJDA both made it straight to the Final will certainly offer a terrific fight for Szeged’s spectators. The Russian STOKHALOV, even if he recognizes that the stakes are lower in this post-Olympic season, looked strong Friday afternoon in semi-finals and will not let them get away easily. “My main goal for now are the Russian national selections, he said. I have been sick two weeks ago and I am not in the best shape, but I race to fight and win.” The Canadian Mark OLDERSHAW did not make it to the Final. The bronze medalist in London took some time off after the Games and came to Szeged to test his shape. Canoeing fans will have the pleasure to listen to him as he will commentate the competition live for ICF TV on Saturday morning!

The local superstars KOKENY/DOMBI will have to defend themselves against the assaults of the Portuguese pair PIMENTA/SILVA in a rerun of the Olympic Games K2 Men 1000m epic final. Both pairs made it straight to the Final by winning their heats and showed a strong determination. They will have to watch out for the Russians RYAKHOY/MEDVEDEV, who decided to focus only on K2 after a disappointment in London, where they aimed to compete at both K2 and K4. This will definitely be one of the highlights of the weekend.

In the absence of the Olympic champions the Australian quartet, the final of the K4 Men 1000m looks quite open and will give the opportunity to the boisterous Szeged crowd to give their all as their favorites will start in lane 4. Not a piece of cake though, as the Hungarians will have to contend with two Russian teams and an impressive Slovakian crew.
We wish a happy birthday to Jonathan SCHOFIELD (GBR), K2 200 m bronze medalist, who turned 28 this Friday who will be in action on Saturday.

STARTLISTS AND RESULTS

Here.

http://eurovision.digotel.com/icf/index.html

TV

The action will also be broadcasts LIVE on Eurosport, with highights shown later on Eurosport 2

- Saturday 11th May, Eurosport LIVE 10:30 CET / Eurosport 2 - HIGHLIGHTS 15:30 CET
- Sunday 12th May, Eurosport LIVE 10:00 CET / Eurosport 2 HIGHLIGHT 17:30 CET

The whole event will also be avaliable on ICF TV starting on Saturday 11th May at 11:00 CET.

Click the more videos link to access ICF TV where you can view all ICF events onDemand.