The Philippine national dragon boat team will vie for a spot in the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
The ICF Dragon Boat World Championships unfolds Thursday off the pristine shores of the Puerto Princesa Baywalk with a record-breaking 27 countries and close to 2,000 participants from all over the globe seeing action.
Puerto Princesa City’s waters will serve as the backdrop for the event which serves as the as the main qualifying event for the World Games in Chengdu, China next year.
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“Puerto Princesa is one of the cleanest cities in the world so we have unique site for the world championships where we can writer history here together,” said International Canoe Federation Thomas Konietzko of Germany Wednesday during the press launch on the eve of the competition.
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“We are thrilled to host the dragon boat world championships here. It is an honor to welcome the world’s best paddling athletes, coaches and supporters to our shores where we hope that the spirit of unity and sportsmanship can thrive,” said Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron in response.
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Hongkong’s Dr. Wai-hung Luk, head of the ICF Dragon Boat Commission, inspected the course Wednesday and noted that “it comes up to the world standard of our races. We can expect some exciting action in the coming days.”
The cumulative times of the top 10 teams in the 200-meter, 500-meter and 2,000-meter races in the 10-seater mixed team event will qualify for the World Games where dragon boat will make its debut as a medal sport.
READ: Home support for PH paddlers as Puerto Princesa hosts Worlds
Speaking on behalf of the PH paddlers, Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation president Leonora “Lenlen” Escollante was optimistic the hosts would deliver and clinch a slot to the World Games given the homecourt advantage and the fact that they have been training here since Sept. 26.
“We are prepared to make it to the top 10. We’ve prepared for this for a long time and the national paddlers know what’s at stake,” said national team veteran and team skipper OJ Fuentes.
“These paddlers are ready under all types of conditions. And while I would not like to predict how many medals we will get, I am confident we will make it to the top 10 of the mixed team event and qualify for the World Games,” said national coach and former national standout Duchess Francine Co.
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On top of sealing a ticket to the World Games, the Filipino bets will eye to surpass their five gold and two silver medals in capturing the overall title the last time they saw action in the 2018 edition held in Gainesville, Georgia.