National canoeist advances to semifinal at Rio 2016
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijani canoe sprinter Valentin Demyanenko reached the semifinal of the Rio Olympic Games on August 17.
Demyanenko finished the men's Canoe Single 200m event first in 39.749 leaving behind Lithuanian Henrikas Zustautas and Italian Carlo Tacchini, who took second and third places, respectively, in the qualifying round.
The Azerbaijani squad is represented in Rio Olympics by 56 athletes who compete in 18 sports in both Summer Olympic Games and Summer Paralympic Games. 36 of them will participate in the Olympic Games for their first time.
Compared to previous years, this year Azerbaijan participates in four new sports, including triathlon, archery, cycling and canoe slalom.
National Olympic team of Azerbaijan includes six freestyle wrestlers, eight Greco-Roman wrestlers, 11 boxers, six judokas, five rowers, four athletes, four taekwondo fighters, three gymnasts, three cyclists, two swimmers and one athlete per each in fencing, triathlon, archery and shooting.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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