By REYNALD MAGALLON
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The Philippine team was off to a fine start in the 2024 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, bagging two silver and four bronze medals on Thursday, Oct. 31, at the famous Baywalk here.
Enduring the scorching heat and the rough waters, the Filipinos delivered two silvers in the juniors mixed and 50+ womens’ masters divisions while the bronzes came from the womens, men’s juniors, 50+ masters open and 40+ masters mixed divisions – all on the small boat 2000-meter distance events.
The juniors mixed team clocked 10:13.51 minutes to place second behind Poland which registered 10:01.76 and ahead of India which recorded 10:22.57.
The 50+ masters team, on the other hand, also bagged the silver with a time of 14:04.67 behind Canada which was full boat ahead of the hosts with a 13”05.27 time. Sweden registered a DNF while Germany signed off in the race.
Not as fortunate, however, is the small boat mixed team which wound up 10th overall in the tight 2000-meter trailrace – one of the three events that served as a qualifier to the 2025 World Games in China.
The Nationals finished sixth in their heat, clocking 9:46.34, just a little slower behind winner Hungary which recorded 9:30.21.
Despite not bagging any gold on the opening day, national team coach Duch Co was pretty much satisfied with the PH paddlers’ performance, considering that the 2000m races are not really their strength.
“Bonus na lang ito yung today kasi 2K is not really our game. More on sprint talaga pero really thankful kasi may endurance talaga yung mga athletes,” said Co.
Seeing her team’s performance in the 2000m events, Co is also optimistic of the team’s chances of finally bagging gold medals in the coming days of the tournament.
“With the women’s kanina maganda yung movement nila sa boat. Sabay-sabay talaga di bumibigay. 2k is mahirap talaga patibayan, napaka importante ng endurance and power. Ngayon ko lang nakakita na ganun kaganda yung movement kanina,” she added.
The mixed team in the standard boat 200m directly qualified to the Finals after topping the heat with a 40.34 sec, defeating Ukraine (49.90) and Czech Republic (52.00).
Earlier in the day, AFP chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr. took the place of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the colorful opening ceremony. Also in attendance were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron and ICF president Thomas Konietzko.
