The Philippine nationwide dragon boat crew will vie for a spot within the 2025 World Video 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 international locations and near 2,000 individuals from all around the globe seeing motion.
Puerto Princesa Metropolis’s waters will function the backdrop for the occasion which serves because the as the primary qualifying occasion for the World Video games in Chengdu, China subsequent 12 months.
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“Puerto Princesa is likely one of the cleanest cities on this planet so we now have distinctive web site for the world championships the place we are able to author historical past right here collectively,” mentioned Worldwide Canoe Federation Thomas Konietzko of Germany Wednesday throughout the press launch on the eve of the competitors.
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“We’re thrilled to host the dragon boat world championships right here. It’s an honor to welcome the world’s finest paddling athletes, coaches and supporters to our shores the place we hope that the spirit of unity and sportsmanship can thrive,” mentioned Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron in response.
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Hongkong’s Dr. Wai-hung Luk, head of the ICF Dragon Boat Fee, inspected the course Wednesday and famous that “it comes as much as the world normal of our races. We are able to count on some thrilling motion within the coming days.”
The cumulative instances of the highest 10 groups within the 200-meter, 500-meter and a pair of,000-meter races within the 10-seater blended crew occasion will qualify for the World Video games the place dragon boat will make its debut as a medal sport.
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Talking on behalf of the PH paddlers, Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation president Leonora “Lenlen” Escollante was optimistic the hosts would ship and clinch a slot to the World Video games given the homecourt benefit and the truth that they’ve been coaching right here since Sept. 26.
“We’re ready to make it to the highest 10. We’ve ready for this for a very long time and the nationwide paddlers know what’s at stake,” mentioned nationwide crew veteran and crew skipper OJ Fuentes.
“These paddlers are prepared underneath all sorts of circumstances. And whereas I might not wish to predict what number of medals we are going to get, I’m assured we are going to make it to the highest 10 of the blended crew occasion and qualify for the World Video games,” mentioned nationwide coach and former nationwide standout Duchess Francine Co.
On high of sealing a ticket to the World Video games, the Filipino bets will eye to surpass their 5 gold and two silver medals in capturing the general title the final time they noticed motion within the 2018 version held in Gainesville, Georgia.
