Palembang—Deputy chef de mission (CDM) Manny Cabili assured Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation president Jonne Go on Wednesday that the dragon boat team will get an extra day of practice before the 18th Asian Games competitions start here on Saturday.
“I talked to the Olympic Council of Asia official who presided during last Tuesday’s CDM meeting and he told me that all foreign teams should get at least two days of practice,” said Cabili, who was with Go as they watched the start of the bowling competitions here at the Jakabaring Bowling Center.
“All that (dragon boat) coach Lenlen Escollante has to do is talk to the technical delegate in charge of the event to work it out,” he said.
Go had earlier complained that the Asian Games organizers had limited the sessions of the foreign teams to just one day of workouts on the eve of the event at the Jakabaring Sports City Lake here, contrary to the practice in previous Asiads.
“One day is definitely not enough to adjust to the weather, water and lane conditions of the course,” Go said. “I find this unreasonable.”
She, however, welcomed the development but admitted that “Indonesia will have the hometown advantage because of their familiarity with the course.”