Olympic canoeing champion makes hat trick in national champi

CHUANAN, Southeast China - By crowning in the men's C1 200m, Athens Olympic champion Yang Wenjun won three gold medals in all at China's National Canoeing Spring Champions tournament here on Sunday.

Before Yang lifted the title in 40.43 seconds, he had pocketed two gold medals in the men's C1 1000m and 500m on Saturday. Zhang Qiguang came by a silver in 42.50 seconds. Yang's Olympic champion partner Meng Guanliang, who has been picking his form as he retired after the 10th National Games in 2005, surprised all by securing a bronze in 42.85 seconds.

"The water is not that wavy as yesterday," said the 24-year-old Yang, who settled for a third place in men's C1 500m in 2006 World Championships, the best single event result for Chinese canoeing.

Zhong Hongyan, like Yang, became the second to win three golds in this tourney. She finished first in women's K1 200m in 42.98 seconds. On Saturday, she also added the golds in women's K1 1000m and 500m to her credit.

Wang Feng and Zhu Minyuan seized silver and bronze, respectively in 43.46 and 43.76 seconds.

In men's K1 200m, Liu Haitao, double champion at the Doha Asian Games, did not play his form as he did yesterday by winning two gold medals, came out only fourth place in 38.72 seconds.

The gold went to Zhou Peng in 37.42 seconds, edging Li Zhen in second place in 37.75 seconds. Lin Miao garnered a bronze in 38.30 seconds.

The top three in the women's C1 200m are Li Tiantian, Zeng Qingmei and Xu Shixiao