The semifinals of the "Good Luck Beijing" Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open were staged today, with Hungary's Vajada Attila, champion of the men's C-1 1000m event of the 2007 World Championships, finishing third to narrowly squeeze into the finals. After the race, Attila said the hot weather had affected his performance to some extent and he expected to perform well in the finals.

As the gold medalist of the men's C-1 1000m at the recent World Championships, Attila did not qualify directly for the finals from the heats yesterday and merely squeezed into the finals as a third-place finisher in today's semifinals. "This is a very beautiful venue," said Attila, "It's so hot here in Beijing, you know, it is difficult for Europeans to adapt themselves to such a high temperature." The weather forecast shows that Beijing's highest temperature these days has reached 33¡æ.

Attila has now set his sights on the gold medal of the Beijing Olympic Games. "I wish I could come here to adapt myself to the course three weeks before the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games," he said. As for his opponents, Attila felt the Chinese canoeists were competitive, "Yang Wenjun is a very good canoeist, who won the bronze medal of the C-1 500m event at the World Championships not long ago."

The 24-year-old Hungarian paddler  is currently a student majoring in sports. "I will teach in a school after graduation from the university. I like my major very much."