SINGAPORE : Kayaker Stephenie Chen was only able to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but the Singaporean was unaffected on Saturday ( Apr 20 ).
The 32-year-old punched her seat for the Paris Olympics after finishing second in the women’s K1 500m last at the ACC Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe Asian Championships, which doubles up as the Asian semifinal for this year’s Games.
The The speed from her metal medal-winning efficiency at the Hangzhou Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, was carried over to the five-time SEA Games hero.
Chen came house in a time of 2min 6. 129sec at Sea Forest Waterway, behind Chinese winner Zhang Luxi ( 2:02. 328 ) and second-placed Ekaterina Shubina of Ukraine ( 2:04. 043 ).
The top two vessels in the women’s K1 competition in Tokyo may take home a limit spot, according to the Olympic website.
A limit location makes it clear that an Singaporean athlete will compete in the Olympics. With China now securing five paddle sprint spots, as of November 2023, making Chen eligible for her first Olympic Games.
On its Instagram bill,” Paris 2024, these she comes!,” Chen congratulated herself on her most recent accomplishment. “
She was a member of a Team Singapore trio that was vying to complete their; places in the Eastern Canoe jump Olympic finals in Tokyo during the Paris Games.
Ten various Singapore athletes have previously qualified for the Paris Olympics, including reigning Eastern Games 200m hero Shanti Pereira, fighter Amita Berthier, kitefoiler Max Maeder and the women’s 4x100m mix float team comprising Quah Ting Wen, Quah Jing Wen, Letitia Sim and Levinia Sim.