Asian Games: Joanie Delgaco places fifth in rowing final

PH rower Joanie Delgaco at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. –JUNE NAVARRO/INQUIRER

HANGZHOU, China—Rower Joanie Delgaco fell short in the finals of the women’s single sculls in the 19th Asian Games early Monday at the Fuyang Water Sports Center.

Delgaco, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, reached the line fifth in the 2,000-meter race among six medal hopefuls after clocking eight minutes and 5.93 seconds.

Uzbekistan’s Anna Prakaten arrived home fastest in 7:39.05 and was unreachable early on in a clear gold-medal victory over China’s Liu Ruiqu (7:49.98).

Japan’s Shiho Yonekawa managed to cross the finish in third (7:51.88) to complete the podium.

Delgaco’s brilliance propelled the Filipina to the medal race by placing second in her semifinal on Friday.

“Joanie raced against Asia’s best rowers, so entering the finals was already a feat in itself,’’ said Philippine Rowing Association president Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.

Out of medal contention, Tokyo Olympian Cris Nievarez ended up second in the men’s single sculls finals B topped by Iraq’s Mohammed Riyadh Al-Khafaji in 7:16.72.

Nievarez registered 7:19.45 and South Korea’s Kim Jongmin placed third in 7:29.55 among six competitors.