By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Filipino rowers showed their readiness in future elite competitions after bagging one gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the 2023 World Indoor Rowing Championships held virtually from Sunday, Feb. 26 to Monday, Feb. 27.
Kristine Paraon spearheaded the PH team’s charge by capturing the gold medal in the 19-20 women’s 2000 meters with a time of 7 minutes and 30.3 seconds ahead of eventual silver medalist Jillian Van Dy of Canada (7:33.0) and Zara Lachlan of Great Britain (7:58.0).
A 2021 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist in the team event, Paraon also pocketed the silver medal in the 19-20 women’s 500m in 1:40.2 behind gold medalist Sara Zafer of Egypt, who clocked 1:32.80.
Tokyo Olympian Cris Nievarez also settled for the bronze in the 21-22 men’s 2000m in 6:21.8 behind eventual winner Andre Pinto of Portugal (5:49.7) and silver medalist Tristan Vandenbussche of Belgium (5:51.5).
Also grabbing the bronze in the 21-22 men’s 500m lightweight sculls was Athens Tolentino, who timed 1:29.3 behind the 1-2 finish of Egyptians Ahmed Assem of Egypt (1:26.7) and Aly Mohamed (1:28.7).
The tournament serves as a training ground for the PH rowers for the 32nd SEAG slated in Cambodia this May where the team hopes to eclipse its previous showing of two silver and six bronze medals in Vietnam.
