World-class dragon boat squad sets sights on Olympics

The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team wins gold in the small boat category (200m) at the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crews World Championships held in Ravenna, Italy on Friday, Sept. 5. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Giorgo Minestrini

AFTER conquering the world, the Philippine dragon boat team has begun to look at the Olympics.

Canoe-Kayak chief Jonne Go yesterday divulged that dragon boat events might finally see action in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

According to the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation president, the five-seater events for 200 and 500 meters could make it in the global quadrennial Games than bigger boats with 10 or 20 paddlers racing.

“We’re highly competitive in the five-seater. We expect to perform well if and when it becomes an Olympic event,” said Go during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at Shakey’s Malate backed by Pagcor, Accel and San Miguel Corporation.

The PCKF, which handles the national squad, has proven time and again that Filipino paddlers can emerge triumphant on the world stage with three gold medals in the recent ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Moscow.

Pinoy paddlers ruled the 20-seater senior mixed team 500m event, 10-seater mixed junior 200m and 20-seater senior mixed team 200m despite the frigid conditions at the world-class Krylatskoe Olympic Racing Course.

The team will again aim for gold medals, this time on the continental stage as the Philippines host the 2016 Asian Dragon Boat Championships in Puerto Princesa City on Nov. 11-13.

“If we can win races against the best in the world, I guess we have brighter chances to win a gold medal in the Olympics as well,” said national head coach Len Escollante.

The Philippines hasn’t won a gold medal in the Olympics yet with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ending a dry medal spell after 20 years in the recent Rio De Janeiro Games with a silver medal in the women’s 53kg event.