Dragon boat paddlers skip meeting on merger with kayak group

MANILA, Philippines—The Cobra Philippine Dragon Boat Federation officials did not attend the meeting called by the House of Representatives, which was trying to strike a deal between the world champion team and the Philippine Canoe/Kayak Federation on Wednesday

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia said he was saddened by the decision of PDBF chief Marcia Cristobal, who sent word Tuesday that they wouldn’t sit down for talks if the agenda for their reinstatement as a national sports association was not on the table

“It’s sad because we are looking forward to settling the issue,” said the PSC chair.

Cristobal said that when they learned that the agenda was the composition of the team for the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games, they immediately notified the PSC that they wouldn’t be attending the meet.

“The main topic which we stressed in Congress and in the Senate is our reinstatement as an NSA,” Cristobal said.