INJURY has robbed Hannah Brown of the chance to defend her world wildwater title but she is remaining upbeat as she targets a positive summer on flat water.

The 23-year-old, from Bradford on Avon, won the K1 sprint discipline at last year’s ICF Wildwater Championships in Slovenia but a rib injury means that the Great Britain star has been forced to pass up the chance go for gold again at this year’s worlds in Italy, on June 17-21.

But the Bradford on Avon Canoe club member has qualification for July’s European Canoe Sprint Championships in Germany in her sights after competing in two World Cup events this month.

“I’ve had a rib stress injury that’s rumbled on since last year and it’s getting better but I’ve had to manage it in training. I haven’t done a lot of whitewater training because of it and it means I’ve had to pull out of the worlds,” said Brown, who was eighth (42.990) in the B final in Szeged, Hungary, last weekend and sixth in Racice, Czech Republic, on May 18.

“It’s hard because the heart wants to go out and defend my title but it’s logical because I haven’t had the proper preparation.

“I was pretty happy with how I did in the World Cups. It was nice to give it a go against some of the biggest, fastest girls in the world.

“I want to try and get in to the squad for the Euros and I’m just waiting to see if I’ve been picked. If I don’t get in straight away, then can qualify at the Nottingham Regatta (June 14-15).”

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