Indian canoe sprinter Prachi Yadav secured a spot in the final of the women's VL2 200m event at the Paris Paralympics after a strong performance in her semifinal on Saturday.
Yadav finished third in her race with a time of 1:05.66, trailing behind Irodakhon Rustamova of Uzbekistan, who clocked 1:04.39, and Jeanette Chippington of Great Britain, who led with 1:02.65.
Earlier in the competition, Yadav had secured a fourth-place finish in the heats, which qualified her for the semifinals.
The top finisher in each semifinal automatically advanced to the final, while Yadav's performance ensured her a place among the top competitors.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, she had finished eighth in the women’s VL2 final.
In contrast, India’s sole male canoe sprinter, Yash Kumar, fell short of advancing to the final. Kumar finished fifth in the semi-finals of the men’s KL1 200m with a time of 1:02.03.
Only the top three from each semi-final progress to the final, and Kumar’s result did not suffice. He had previously finished sixth in the heats.
Indian canoe sprinter Pooja Ojha is set to compete in the women’s KL1 200m semi-finals on Sunday, aiming to replicate Yadav’s success and secure a place in her respective final.
The VL2 classification, in which Yadav is competing, is designated for para-athletes who have partial function in their legs and trunk but are able to sit upright in the kayak.
This category may require a high-backed seat to accommodate the athlete's needs.
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