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EG 2023: Kayak gold for Poland's Naja, Puławska, Kąkol, Putto

22.06.2023 15:00
Poland's Karolina Naja, Anna Puławska, Adrianna Kąkol and Dominika Putto won the gold in the women's K4 500m kayaking event at the 2023 European Games on Thursday to secure their country's second medal of the international multi-sport event on home soil.
Dominika Putto, Adriana Kakol, Anna Puławska and Karolina Naja.
Dominika Putto, Adriana Kakol, Anna Puławska and Karolina Naja.Photo: PAP/Paweł Jaskółka

Germany took the silver, while Denmark claimed the bronze, broadcaster TVP Sport reported.

Earlier in the day, Poland's Norman Zezula and Aleksander Kitewski won the bronze in the men's canoe double 500 metres competition for Poland's first medal of the continental Games.

A total of 370 Polish athletes, 188 men and 182 women, have been selected to compete in the 3rd European Games, which opened in the southern Polish city of Kraków on Wednesday and run until July 2.

The European Games feature 12 days of competition in 29 sports and provide opportunities to win European championship medals and a pathway to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in some of the sports.

The 3rd European Games in Poland feature 12 days of competition in 29 sports and provide opportunities to win European championship medals and a pathway to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in some of the sports. The 3rd European Games in Poland feature 12 days of competition in 29 sports and provide opportunities to win European championship medals and a pathway to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in some of the sports. Photo: PAP/Łukasz Gągulski

Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk said earlier this week that Poland was aiming to top the medals table of the continental event.

"We set ourselves ambitious goals," Bortniczuk said. "We hope to finish top of the medal standings."

More than 7,000 athletes from 48 countries are expected to take part in the event, which is taking place at 25 venues in Kraków and 12 other southern Polish cities, including Chorzów, Tarnów, Nowy Sącz, Nowy Targ and Zakopane.

Poland won 14 medals, three gold, one silver and 10 bronze, at the 2nd European Games in Minsk, Belarus in 2019.

Team Poland scooped 20 medals, two gold, eight silver and 10 bronze, at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2015.

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Source: PAP, TVP Sport