GAYLORD Coveta, the 24-year-old windsurfer, who bagged the world championship in his division two years ago in Boracay, has replaced Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Japeth Aguilar as the country’s flag-bearer in the Asian Games.
Coveta, who made the Asiad delegation after winning the RS: One World Championships, was chosen by Philippine Sports Commission chair and Asiad chief of mission Richie Garcia.
PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy yesterday said Garcia informed him of Coveta’s choice from among 150-plus athletes.
Aguilar will have to miss the opening after Gilas decided to leave for Incheon only on Sept. 20 to be able to train longer.
Coveta also won the Singapore Open last year and is a possible Asiad gold medal prospect.
The celebrated Philippine men’s basketball team is seeded in the preliminaries and will see action starting Sept. 23 against the top team in Group B.
Coveta now joins the distinguished list of Asian Games flag-bearers that include Paeng Nepomuceno (2006) and Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski (2010).