Pinoy windsurfers bag gold in RS: One World Championships in Vietnam

Geylord Coveta edged out Thailand’s Navin Singsart and Natthaphong Phonoppharat to win the RS: One World Championships’ male division. Photo from Facebook/@RSOneClass

Two Filipino windsurfers once again brought glory to the entire nation after striking gold in the recently concluded RS: One World Championships in Vietnam.

The four-day event, held at the An Bang Beach in Hoi An on June 10-14 , featured over 51 racers from 14 countries and 3 continents, who duked it out for windsurfing supremacy.

The country’s own Geylord Coveta and Yancy Kaibigan lorded over the competition and won their respective divisions.

Coveta dominated the competition since Day 1, en route to bagging a gold medal and the tourney’s overall champion.

He bested Thailand’s Navin Singsart and Natthaphong Phonoppharat, who came in at second and third place, respectively.

His teammate, Yancy Kaibigan, also won first place in the Espoirs (under 22-year-old category), according to the RS: ONE website.

Thailand’s Siripon Kaewduangngam, meanwhile, won the women’s division, with China’s  Peiling Chen coming in at close second. Legendary windsurfer and 2010 Wind Surfing World Champion Blanca Manchon of Spain won third place.

Image from RS: One Class website

This year, the open-to-all annual race featured innovative formats like the Pulsar (compact slalom, America’s Cup style) and Marathon (long distance).

Both Coveta and Kaibigan will defend their crowns next year in the 2018 Asian Championships in Goa, India.  /ra