Athens Olympic champion Yang Wenjun of China took all by surprise when he settled only for a fifth place in the men's C1 1,000m of canoe and kayak competition at theDoha Asian Games here on Monday.

The reigning Olympic champion in the men's C2 500m and dual Asian gold medalist completed his race in five minutes and 20.247 seconds and blamed the loss to the wind and choppy waves.

"The wind today is very unfavorable for me," said Yang.

Beyond all's expectation, Yang had a terrible start. He tried to make up for that and even ranked third after the first 750m. But Uzbekistan's Vadim Menkov went all out to pace the race, finishing in 4:57.815, followed by Yevgeniy Bezhnar of Kazakhstan in 4:58.571. The bronze went to Japan's Taito Ambo in 5:08.883.

Wei Di, director of the Water Events department under China's National Sports Administration, explained that the wind made Yang,a left-handed canoeman, unable to adjust the boat in time.

"When the starting gun sounded, he has fallen behind by severalmeters," said Wei, "He tried to chase up but failed in the end. Heneeds to reflect on that. However, I still have confidence in the men's C1 500 which Yang also enters."

Other than the flaw, China made a hat trick by winning the restthree events.

Liu Haitao defended his title in the men's K1 1,000m, clocking a time of 4:25.136, edging Uzbekistan's Aleksey Babadjanov and South Korea's Moon Chul Wook into second and third places, respectively in 4:27.776 and 4:30.796.

Trailing in the first 250m, Liu came from behind and led the way in the rest 750m.

"It's very hard to race in Lane Five since the current here is rapid especially in the sprinting part. I keep telling myself to control my rhythm and I did it," Liu said.

"Liu did a good job despite in an unfavorable lane," Wei praised Liu.

Chinese duo Li Zhen and Lin Miao played darkhorses' role in themen's K2 1,000m as they rarely had any big-event experience before.

After going through a stiff race, the pair wrapped up the victory in 3:56.423. Out of excitement, Li even fell on purpose tothe water to celebrate the victory.

"I think we are advantageous in strength," said Lin.

Iran's Abbas Sayadi Kachalki and Reza Reisi took the silver in 3:58.491 while former Asian Games gold medalist Yevgeniy Alexeyev and his partner Alexey Podoinikov walked away with the bronze in 3:59.343.

China's joy continued as Ma Xiaojie and Huang Shaokun, another young duo, lifted the title in the men's C2 1,000m.

Ma was extremely satisfied with the result.

The duo encountered a big challenge from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but handled easily en route to the victory in 4:22.003,edging Uzbekistan into second place in 4:25.511.

Japan took the bronze in 4:25.863.

Editor: Donald