Source : GMA News SportsMilan - Filipino paddlers defeated challengers from all over the world to win all three gold medals staked Sunday in the Open Category of the 200-meter events of the World Dragon Boat Championships organized by the International Canoe Federation.
This three gold-medal haul capped a tremendous run by the Filipino paddlers that saw them win a total of six golds and a silver in the seven events they took part in. They finished first of the 14 countries that competed.
The paddlers first won the gold medal in the 10 paddlers all-male event with a time of 50.07 seconds. Russia won the silver medal with a time of 51.12 seconds followed by Poland’s 52.757 seconds.
This was followed by the mixed 20 (12 men, eight women) where the Filipinos clocked 44.486 seconds, followed by Russia’s 45.329, and Germany’s 46.133.
The Filipino athletes capped the day with the gold in the mixed 10 race (six men, four women) with a time of 52.419 seconds. Russia again finished second with clocking in a respectable 53.739 seconds, while the United States third with a time of 54.569 seconds..
“You are simply awesome. Russia did not see you coming and also you have reminded all of us that there is such a country as Philippines in the map,” the Canadian head of delegation told Philippine Canoe/Kayak Federation Secretary-General Jonne Go.
Hundreds of Filipino overseas workers from Milan and other parts of the country cheered the loudest in the day’s event. Their efforts were rewarded as the Philippine national anthem was played three times that day.
“We are just very thankful for this performance of our athletes. Somehow this vindicates the decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee to transfer the management of dragon boat to the PCKF,” noted head coach Len Escollante pointed out.
The 25-member team returns to Manila on Tuesday bringing in the distinction of being the most accomplished national sports association for the year.
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