DOHA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Despite faltering heats, Chinese paddlers made up for it as they advanced to all six finals of canoe and kayak competitions here on Wednesday.

    In Wednesday's heats, China only had Li Zhen and Zhou Peng booking direct berth in the finals, finishing in 1 minute and 48.137 seconds.

    In the rest five events' heats, China have been forced to the semifinals.

    Yang Wenjun, Olympic champion in the men's C2 500m in Athens, first participated in men's C1 500m but had a disappointing fourthfinish in the heats. However, another fourth place in the semis secured him a berth in the finals.

    In the men's C2 500m, Yang and his partner Wang Bing also settled for a fourth finish but improved their placing to third inthe semis, thus advancing to the finals.

    "A berth in the finals is enough,"said Yang, "Tomorrow's final is more important."

    Liu Haitao, gold medalist in the men's K1 1,000m, came out first place in the semis of men's K1 500m despite a sluggish finish in the heats.

    "I tried my best in the heats but the currents influenced me." said Liu, who will be joined by Masashi Saiki of Japan and South Korea's Nam Sung Ho.

    In the women's K1 500m, defending champion Zhong Hongyan won the semifinal in 2:14.596, whose arch rival in the finals might beUzbekistan's Yulia Borzova. The other qualifiers in the semis wereYumiko Suzuki of Japan and Iran's Elaheh Kharazmi.

    "It is possible for me to win a medal. It's difficult because Iraced in lane five in the finals. Mentally I think I am the best, but I have the confidence to become a champion. I was affected by the conditions over here but still I am the best," Zhong said.

    The last semifinal was the women's K2 500m in which Ekaterina Shubina and Yulia Borzova finished first, nearly a second ahead ofWorld Championship silver medallists Zhu Minyuan and Yu Lamei of China.

    "Tomorrow our goal is to win a gold medal," Yu said.