Canada wins silver medal in men’s kayaking 1,000-metre competition

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada won silver in the men’s K4 1,000-metre race Thursday at the Pan American Games.

Richard Dober Jr. of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que., Philippe Duschesneau of St-Denis-de-Brompton, Que., Toronto’s Steven Jorens and Connor Taras of Waverley, N.S., finished in three minutes 2.653 seconds in the kayak final.

Cuba won gold in 3:01.061, while Brazil (3:02.821) took the bronze.

“It was a great race, probably one of the best K4 races I’ve ever had,” Taras said. “It was great to be on the podium and it was rewarding after a long year of hard work. It sets the mood for the rest of the regatta.”

Added Duschesneau: “It was a smart race. We stuck to our plan perfectly and I am happy about the result. We were really relaxed and in control, compared with a lot of K4 races I’ve competed in.”

In other events, Jennifer Park of Nanaimo, B.C., won silver in women’s bowling, while Montreal’s Caroline Lagrange earned bronze.

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Meanwhile, Canada’s men’s fencing took bronze in the team epee event, Malindi Elmore of Kelowna, B.C., was third in the women’s 1,500 metres in athletics, Toronto’s Olivia Grant won bronze in the women’s 68-kilogram karate event and Shaun Dhillon of New Westminster, B.C., won bronze in the men’s 84-kilogram karate event.

And Montreal’s George Kobaladze won bronze in the men’s 105-kilogram weightlifting competition.

Park fell 2-0 to Elizabeth Johnson of the U.S. in the bowling final. Park beat Lagrange 2-1 in the semis.

Canada’s men’s fencing team consisting of Vancouver’s Tigran Bajgoric, Igor Gantsevich of Richmond, B.C., Quebec City’s Vincent Pelletier and Montreal’s Etienne Lalonde-Turbide beat Chile 45-27 to take bronze in the team epee event. The Venezuelans took on the U.S. for gold later Thursday.

Elmore finished third in the women’s 1,500 with a time of 4:27.57. Cuba’s Adriana Munoz won in 4:26.09, while Colombia’s Rosibel Garcia (4:26.78) took the silver.

“I had to be patient,” Emore said. “The group got the pace at 150-200 meters. Usually, it’s about 400-600 meters. I wanted to win or at least get a silver medal.”

In the women’s 68-kilogram karate division, Grant lost to eventual silver medallist Xunashi Caballero of Mexico in the semifinal. Guatemala’s Maria Castellanos won gold.

Kobaladze won bronze in the men’s 105-kilogram weightlifting competition, behind Brazil’s Fernando Reis and Venezuela’s Yoel Morales.

Meanwhile, Canada’s men’s field hockey team beat Cuba 3-2 in semifinal play.

A victory over Argentina on Saturday would give Canada an automatic berth at next year’s Summer Olympics in London.

“We are here to win this tournament and we are here to qualify for the Olympic Games,” Canada coach Robin D’Abreo said. “With this performance we have given ourselves an opportunity to allow that to happen.”