China's Zhong Hongyan clocked 1:58.023 to enter the women's K-1 500m final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open today.

"I feel so exhausted today but it's better than yesterday. Thanks to so many spectators who cheered me on and I really enjoyed this." Zhong said after the race.

Zhong, ranking second overall in the 2007 World Cup, commented: "It's rather hot today but not as humid as yesterday."

"The event is of world top class as six to seven of the top kayakists came here," revealed Zhong, who failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games at the World Championships two weeks ago and has to fight for the ticket again by winning the title of next year's Asian Cup.

"Japan is the biggest rival to me but getting a ticket for the Olympics is not really a big problem," she said.

In the women's K-2 500m event, China's Xu Linbei and Song Minyuan also made to the final phase.