COBRA PHILIPPINE DRAGON BOAT TEAM GRABS TWO MORE GOLD MEDALS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 06 Aug 2011
The gallant Cobra Philippine Dragon Boat team has grabbed two more gold medals at the 10th International Dragon Boat World Championships in Tampa, Florida.
Removed as a recognized National Sports Association by the Philippine Olympic Committee headed by its president Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco and receiving no support whatsoever from the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Richie Garcia, the downsized team supported by Philippine Airlines and Cobra Energy Drink and getting a widespread boost from both the television and print media courageously paddled their way to a third gold medal.
The team referred to as the ?Dragon Warriors? started off the quest by winning the Premier 200 meter mixed event in a time of 57:07 seconds, finishing ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and Italy.
The Philippine team was composed of five men and five women who finished over 6.5 seconds ahead of the silver medal winners.
The Filipinos finished the day by capturing a third coveted gold medal in the 200 meter men?s small boat event and thanked their sponsors and supporters in the Philippines who made the trip possible and to the Filipino community in the United States that has rallied around the team.
ABS-CBN?s Dyan Castillejo who is in Tampa covering the championships said the team ?thanked the many Filipinos in Florida who continue to bring them food and water and energy bars? in a touching show of support.
The 2007 and 2009 World champions were unable to compete in the standard boat races which fit up to 22 people due to lack of financial support and the lack of equipment.
POC official Mark Joseph circulates a text message seeking to downplay the achievements of the Dragon Boat team and was bitterly criticised on the social networks.
An angry Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok whom Cojuangco and his group are trying to expel from the POC responded to Joseph's text by stating "of all people in the POC you are the most cruel to athletes. You don't mind them suffering, especially the young."
After starting their events at 8:00 a.m. the Philippine team was exhausted when they competed in the finals of the All Comers men?s event over 200 meters at 7:00 p.m. and finished second to add a silver medal to their three-gold tally.
Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN told the Inquirer that it was 32 degrees tropical heat and the finals was our paddlers eighth race for the day adding ?they were pooped.?
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