Filipino paddlers ended the year with a splash, winning three gold medals for the country in a span of only one month.
Under the brilliant stewardship of the top officials of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation, the country’s dragonboat team dominated the 2015 Asian Dragonboat Championship as they paddled their way into two gold medals last November in Palembang Bay, Indonesia.
The success was followed by another smashing victory only last December, as they ruled the prestigious 2015 Thailand International Swan Boat Race held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Often considered as underdogs against heftier and more muscle-bound paddlers from other countries, the Filipino paddlers exceeded expectations and proved to be better competitors than their rivals from Asian powerhouses Korea, Chinese-Taipeh and Southeast Asia neighbors Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore.
“We competed against national teams of different countries and again for the second time last year 2015 after our successful Asian Dragonboat championships, we won against the national team of host Thailand in the Swan race,” said national dragonboat team head coach Len Escollante, who worked hand in hand with PCKF chief Jonne Go in forming a champion team after a long process of discovering and honing and supporting our homegrown athletes.
Armed with an indomitable spirit and steely determination and their innate love of country, paddlers Alex Generalo, John Paul Selencio,Fernan Dungan,Hermie Macaranas, Reymart Nevado,Jordan de Guia, Jonathan Ruiz,Ojay Fuentes Mark John Frias, drummer Patricia Ann Bustamante and steerer Maribeth Caranto proved that the Filipino athletes are truly world-class in caliber.
Go said that after a brief rest during the holidays, the national dragonboat team will resume its regular training as they prepare for more international tournaments in 2016.
‘We will continue to discover young potential talents particularly in the countryside for systematic transition of sea warriors in our quest for supremacy in boat competitions internationally as we are eyeing our golden mission in the next Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia then focus on Asiad and ultimately to our world quest once again,” Go said.
With the unbeatable tandem of Go and Escollante working like a well-oiled machine, the national paddlers actually started 2015 with a bang, as they claimed five golds, three silvers and three bronze medals in the 2014 International Canoe Federation [ICF] Dragonboat World Championship held in Poland in ruling the seniors’ men 200m,10-seater, seniors mixed 200m and in the 500 and 200 juniors categories.
Go and Escollante said they remain confident that with the countinued support by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and corporate sponsors, the national paddlers will bring home more medals in competitions here and abroad.
