ADD a trip to the World Games in Chengdu, China in August next year among the outstanding accomplishments of the Philippine paddlers in the recent ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
An article posted on the International Canoe Federation last Monday confirmed that the country has qualified for the prestigious quadrennial games for non-Olympic sports that will be held from Aug. 7 to 17 where dragon boat racing will debut as a medal sport.
“Thailand and Indonesia had already qualified for The World Games at the ICF Dragon Boat World Cup in Yichang last month. Joining them are Hungary, Myanmar, Spain, Ukraine, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Cambodia, the Philippines and AIN, with one quota reserved for host China,” the report said.
In the three 10-seater mixed small boat events that served as the basis for qualifying for the World Games on cumulative times, the Filipinos finished 10th in the mixed 2,000-meter and fifth in the 200-meter races.
The remarkable feat was the icing on the cake after the hosts captured the overall crown over 27 countries that took part in the blue-ribbon competition with a rich harvest of 11 gold, 20 silver and eight bronze medals.
“We have made history once again with the Philippines qualifying for the World Games in Chengdu, China in August next year when dragon both will make its inaugural appearance in the sportsfest,” noted Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation Leonora Escollante.
“While we are proud of this achievement, our paddlers have their work cut out for them as they begin to train and work hard not only for the World Games but also for the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December next year,” Escollante said before leaving for the ICF Congress in Antalya, Türkiye.
The International Canoe Federation will hold its meeting in the Turkish tourist city starting tomorrow till Saturday to celebrate its centennial jubilee while holding polls where ICF president Thomas Konietzko is running for re-election unopposed.
Escollante cited the national team members who made the milestone possible.
The male members are team captain Ojay Fuentes, Edmund Catapang, Rogelio de Borja, MC Skyler Estacio, Roger Kenneth Masbate, Jobert Peñaranda, Kenneth Louie Palattao, Roberto Pantaleon, Jerome Solis, Lee Robin Santos, John Paul Selencio, Sandro Zardenia, Jims Vincent Arseno, Jordan Parayno (steersman) and John James Pelagio (drummer).
The female members are Lealyn Baligasa, Riza Canonoy, Rosalyn Esguerra, Jinny Rose Omena, Roda Daban, Mary Ann Vanguardia and Kimly Adie Balboa.
Due to the pressure of competing in the worlds and doing well in the Thailand SEA Games, Escollante is keen on tapping the help of private sponsors so the national paddlers can get proper nutrition to enhance their power and competitiveness on the international stage.
