Team Philippines (No. 3) breaks away from the pack early. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—OJ Fuentes scanned the length of the city’s famed boardwalk by the bay and took a deep breath before his team went full throttle with a singular mission, and that is to help Team Philippines thrive on the world stage.
The national team skipper saw their monthlong grind at the world-class course bear fruit on Friday as the country collected its first gold medal at the International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championships.
“We’re happy to claim our first gold, but our mission doesn’t end here,’’ said Fuentes in Filipino after the PH mixed squad ruled the standard boat 200-meter finale under cloudy skies at placid Puerto Princesa Baywalk.
That golden breakthrough touched off a series of fortunate events as the host nation brought in a total of four golds—three more in the men’s and women’s masters 200 m and in the women’s 40+ 200 m, surprising the field of over 1,400 paddlers from 27 countries.
Very much at home
With Fuentes, a multiple medalist in the Southeast Asian Games and international meets, pushing his teammates, they crossed the line in 47.07 seconds in a wire-to-wire finish that staved off Canada (48.69) and the Individual Neutral Athlete squad made up of Russian paddlers (49.03).
“We knew that it would be a tight race in the last 10 meters, and we gave all we had at that point. We are comfortable here, we’ve trained on this course for more than a month,’’ said Fuentes.
More victories for the Filipino paddlers will push them closer to an appearance in the World Games in Chengdu, China, next year, where the top 10 teams here will secure slots in the quadrennial sportsfest featuring non-Olympic disciplines.
The PH mixed masters clocked 49.41 seconds in the 20-seater 40+ 200 m, nosing out Czechoslovakia (50.84) and Hungary (52.12).
The Filipino masters ruled the standard boat 200 m (49.01) and the women’s side picked up the fourth gold in 55.22 seconds.
Team Philippines compiled five gold and two silver medals the last time the country raced in the 2018 edition of the worlds in Lake Lanier, Gainesville, Georgia. Fuentes was also part of that squad.
“This is just the start and hopefully we can win more,’’ said Fuentes. INQ