PHILIPPINES WINS SIX GOLDS IN TOPPING THE WORLD DRAGON BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP IN MILAN
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 04 Sep 2012
THE Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF) Dragon Boat Team has won six gold medals and a silver in the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Dragon Boat World Championship 2012 held on August 28-Sept 3, 2012 in Milan, Italy.
In the first day of the competition, Team Philippines grabbed the gold in 10 men paddlers 500m and silver in 20 paddlers mixed 500m. In the 10 men 500m, the Philippines got a time of 2:15.714 to beat Russia who timed 2:15.938 for the gold medal.
Team Philippines again bested powerhouses Russia and the United States by nailing three gold medals in the Open category of the 200-meter events. The astounding endeavor advanced the Filipinos to the top spot among the 14 countries with a total heave of six gold medals and one silver medal with only the 500-meter mixed 20 escaping from their victory.
They were cheered by Overseas Filipino Workers in Italy as the Filipino paddlers raced to the victory in the 10-paddler all-men race, with 50.07 seconds, prevailing over Russia?s 51.12. Later, the mixed 20 team of 12 men and eight women triumphed, with a time of 44.486 to beat Russia again with 45.33.
The Filipinos also ruled the mixed 10 race, with six men and four women, in 52.42. Russia again placed second in 53.74. The Filipinos? other victories came in the 10 mixed 500m and the 10-men 2,000m.
The Filipino paddlers entered the 2,000m race without expecting to win with only little training for the long distances but relied on their excellent conditioning to shock their rivals, especially second placer Sweden. Philippines finished in 9:35.488 while Sweden clocked 9:41.814.
?We were really more concerned with the qualifying runs in the 200 meter races. But since we were first in the order of release, we decided to join,? explained head coach Len Escollante. The European powers ? Germany, Poland and Russia ? were conceding all 200 meter finals to the Philippines because our paddlers are ?simply too fast and too furious.?
?We have been so blessed and this is not only for our countrymen but also for the POC and the PSC that invested their trust on the PCKF,? Escollante added. The team was under the backing of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.
?Our marching order from PCKF president Sim Chi Tat is to give our all because this is important for our discipline that will be a demonstration sport in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil,? she added. Dragon boat is one of four events vying to become a regular event in the Olympics by 2020. The ICF has decided to substitute the four-man kayak races with the dragon boat races in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The men?s team has won seven medals in international competitions, including a gold, silver and bronze in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, two silvers and one bronze in the 2012 Asian Beach Games in China and a gold in the Taiwan Invitational.
Photo: Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation Team with PSC Chairman Richie Garcia
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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