PUERTO PRINCESA CITY: Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation (PCKDBF) president Leonora Escollante on Monday praised the Filipino paddlers for their brilliant showing in the just-concluded ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, bagging 11 gold, 20 silver, and eight bronze medals. However, she believes they can further excel in overseas competitions.

According to Philippines News Agency, Escollante expressed her pride in the team’s performance but emphasized the potential for further development. “While I am proud of what we achieved at the worlds, I believe that there is still some room for improvement. Something is still missing. So, that is what we will work on so that our paddlers can be more competitive in international competition,” she stated in an interview.

The Philippines outperformed regional powerhouse Thailand, who secured eight golds, while the team of Individual Neutral Athletes came in third with six gold, three silver, and three bronze medals. Escollante noted that while the Filipino at
hletes have the right technique, enhancing their power through improved nutrition and supplements could elevate their performance.

National coach Duch Co and national team skipper OJ Fuentes echoed Escollante’s sentiments. Co remarked, “We practically have the same stroke and technique as our foreign rivals. But we lack power. Nutrition is very important and that’s the big thing we lack.” Fuentes added, “It’s a big thing if we can build muscle and get more power in our strokes. You have seen our opponents, especially from Europe, who are strong and muscular.”

To achieve these goals, Escollante highlighted the need for financial support from both the government and private sector, hoping that the recent victory would attract potential sponsors. She stressed the importance of backing the team for upcoming events like the World Games in Chengdu, China, and the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games next year, where dragon boat will feature prominently.

“There is a good chance that the Philippines will qualify fo
r the World Games and the sport will be back in the Thailand SEA Games so we need to maintain and sustain the gains we attained at the worlds in these two big events late next year,” Escollante noted. The team’s success was evident as early as November 1, when they surpassed their 2018 performance in Gainesville, Georgia, by securing eight gold medals.