Lisa Carrington safely advanced in the K1 500m ©Getty Images

Hot favourites including Olympic champions Dame Lisa Carrington, Bálint Kopasz and C2 pair Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya safely advanced on the opening day of the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Halifax.

New Zealand's Carrington was one of four winners in the women's K1 500 metres heats - one of three events she was a gold medallist in at Tokyo 2020.

Australia's Alyssa Bull had the fastest time, 1min 52.88sec, with Hungary's Eszter Rendessy and Slovenian Anja Osterman the other heat winners.

In the women's C2 500m, Xu and Sun's 1:58.66 was more than two second faster than the rest of the field.

Hungary's Kopasz was fastest in the K1 1,000m as he attempts to reclaim the world title.

Portuguese paddler Fernando Pimenta, the reigning champion, also won his heat and was second-fastest overall.

The fastest men's K4 500m crew were the Germans, the Olympic champions, while Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Poland led the women's K4 500m times.

Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya dominated C2 500m qualifying in Canada
Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya dominated C2 500m qualifying in Canada

Two Para athletes also won world titles on day one of the International Canoe Federation event.

Benjamin Sainsbury of Australia triumphed in the men's VL1 200m, finishing more than two seconds ahead of Italian runner-up Alessio Bedin.

Robinson Mendez from Chile won the bronze medal.

Germany's Lillemor Köper won the women's equivalent in 1:29:79.

India's Pooja Ojha was second and fellow German Esther Bode third.