Paul O'Donovan eases through to world semi-final in Canada

O'Donovan will go in the semi-finals on Friday evening.

Ireland's Paul O'Donovan celebrates with his gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Picture: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

16 days after he and Fintan McCarthy defended their lightweight double sculls Olympic title, Paul O'Donovan was back in competitive action, but this time without his usual rowing partner.

O'Donovan won his heat in the lightweight single sculls at the World Championships in St Catharine's in Canada. The Corkman clocked 06:41.98, winning by more than seven seconds. His time was quick but not the fastest of the heats. That was by Italy's Niels Torre, who set a new world's best time of 6:39.56 in the second heat.