Pinoys look forward to rematch with Russians

Pinoy paddlers got 3 gold medals in the ongoing 2016 Asian Dragonboat Championships here in Puerto Princesa. Photo by June Navarro

The Philippine dragon boat team is bracing itself for a rematch against a Russia side which got beaten by the Filipino paddlers in Moscow last year.

Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation president Jonne Go said Monday that plans are afoot for a dual meet between the Russians and the Filipinos tentatively set in Boracay middle of the year.

The Filipinos bagged three gold medals amid wintry conditions in the International Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat World Championships in Moscow four months ago.

They pulled off victories in the 20-seater senior mixed team 500-meter and 200m events and 10-seater junior mixed 200m race, all at the expense of the Russians at the famed Moscow Olympic rowing and canoeing training center in Krylatskoe.

“More than the projected rematch with Russia in these races, it will give our team optimum exposure in preparation for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia,” said Go, who also sits as auditor of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Kuala Lumpur has scratched dragon boat events in the forthcoming 2016 Southeast Asian Games, forcing Filipino paddlers to look ahead in the Asian Games where 10 gold medals are at stake.

The Philippines recently pocketed five of the 10 gold medals in the Asian Championships held in Puerto Princesa—standard boat men’s 500m, 200m, small boat men’s 200m, 10-seater junior mixed 500m and 10-seater women’s 500m.

“They (Russians) are one of the strongest teams in the world when it comes to dragon boat racing,” said national coach Len Escollante. “We hope to learn more when we race against them.”

Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez met with Russian embassy officials late last year and among those drawn up were a projected rematch between Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Anatoly Karpov  as well as  the dragon boat dual race between Russia and the Philippines.

According to Ramirez, the partnership with Russia will help the country set up and effectively manage the Philippine Institute of Sports where future medalists in big tournaments such as the Asian Games, Olympics and world championships will be molded.