Canada's Adam van Koeverden is on course to win his second Olympic gold medal in the canoeing flatwater regatta in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

Van Koeverden is eyeing to better his third place in the men's kayak single (K1) 1,000m final in Athens. His main contenders include defending champion Eirik Veraas Larsen of Norway and world champion Tim Brabants of Britain. The three won three heats on Monday and advanced directly to the final scheduled on Friday.

The 26-year-old Canadian also got his title defence to a good start by beating his own world best time in the K1 500m heat. "It was a heat and I can go faster. I am happy to hear that I have broken it but I can definitely go faster than that," he said after the heat on Tuesday

There are five other finals on Friday, the men's canoe single (C1) 1,000m, the women's kayak four (K4) 500m, the men's kayak double (K2) 1,000m, canoe double (C2) 1,000m, and K4 1,000m.

In the men's C1, defending champion David Cal of Spain is a strong favorite, but he will be pushed hard by Attila Sandor Vajda of Hungary, reigning world champion and bronze medalist in Athens.

In the women's K4, defending champion German crew will likely to continue their winning streak since 1996. Hungary, the strongest contender, is eyeing to regain their glory at the Barcelona Games when they defeated Germany to win the title. Chinese crew, who finished second behind German in the heat, could win a bronze medal.

In the men's K2, Germany and Hungary are the favorites for the one of the closest race after winning two heats respectively. World champion France, and Poland, silver medalists in the 2007 world champs, could stand on the podium.

In the men's C2, Germany are on course to retain the title they won in Athens. The crew took world titles in 2005 and 2007 and beat two Hungarian crews to win the first 2008 world cup race. Belarus, Cuba, and Romania are also strong medal contenders.

In the men's K4, Germany is looking to upset Hungary after coming first in a heat ahead of the defending Olympic champion. Slovakia, winner of another heat and Athens bronze medalists, could also win a medal.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)