TOKYO (Reuters) - Defending champion Lisa Carrington of New Zealand set a new Olympic best to reach the final of the women's kayak single 200 metres competition at the Sea Forest Waterway, as her opponents also set scorching times on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old, who will go for a third successive gold in the final later on Tuesday to add to her triumphs in London 2012 and Rio 2016, clocked in at 38.127 seconds in her semi-final to better her own Games best of 39.864 seconds.