The Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation (PCKF) has no plans of slowing down following its crew’s very impressive performance in the recent International Club Crew Championships in Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
The team won five gold and three silver medals in the event that took place last month, surpassing their own projection of winning three gold medals.
Members of the victorious teams in the men’s 200-m and 500-m 20-seater and women’s 200-m and juniors 500-m showed off their medals at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Jonne Go, the PCKF president, and head coach Len Escollante accompanied the Philippine paddlers to the forum where they also announced Puerto Princesa’s bid to host the World Club Crew Championships in 2019.
“We already presented our bid with the help of Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron. If we win the bid, we will host the event which is expected to draw as many as 60 teams from around the world,” she said in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
The sport of dragon boat is not part of the SEA Games calendar in 2017 in Malaysia. But Escollante said it doesn’t mean that PCKF members are lowering their guard.
“There’s a plan to host the Russian team in a friendly competition and based on early info it will be held in Boracay. Then we will focus on the 2018 Asian Games,” said the head coach.
“Our paddlers will continue training. We are trying our best to improve,” said Escollante.f
Also gracing the forum were coaches Diomedes Manalo and Norwel Cajes, and paddlers Alex Generalo, OJ Fuentes, Jordan De Guia, Oliver Manaig, Raquel Almencion, Patricia Bustamante, Apple Jane Abitona and Rosel Burgos.