The country’s rising junior paddlers get the opportunity to shine as the Philippines hosts the 2024 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
With the event set to take place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, local enthusiasm is at an all-time high, as Filipino paddlers prepare to make their mark in the international stage.
In the lead-up to the championships, 21 junior male paddlers and eight female paddlers are undergoing rigorous training at a camp organized by the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF) in Davao City.
PCKF President Leonora Escollante revealed that the junior squad has expanded significantly, with additional paddlers recruited from across the Philippines, including Davao City, Iligan City, Zamboanga City, Samal Island, San Miguel, Leyte, Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Cebu City, Cagayan, Manila, and Calbayog City.
“The training has been intensive for over a month, and we are committed to ensure our junior paddlers are competitive in the world stage,” Escollante said.
The junior team now boasts of 38 male and 19 female paddlers, thanks to efforts from local leaders like Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who supported the training camp with the help of Clarice Jane Calolot and Rey Sumagaysay.
Coached by John Paul Selencio and Ronald Tan, the final roster for the junior team will be confirmed a month before the competition. The goal is to capture a significant share of the medals available.
The event is already attracting considerable interest, with at least 20 countries confirming their participation.
Organizers from the PCKF and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Rodriguez Bayron anticipate a larger turnout compared to previous editions of the world championships.
With barely two months to go, the Philippines has already surpassed the 15-country participation in the 2022 championships held in Racice, Czech Republic.
In previous world championships, Filipino paddlers excelled, securing the overall title in 2018 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park, Gainesville, Georgia. They dominated the 10-seater and 20-seater senior mixed 200-meter and 500-meter races, and also earned silver medals in the big boat mixed 2000m and small boat men’s 500m categories.
An estimated 3,500 paddlers from 35 to 50 countries are expected to compete in the upcoming championships, eager to experience the elite beach destination of Puerto Princesa.
The PCKF, the governing body for paddling sports in the Philippines, including canoe and kayak sprints, slalom canoe, stand-up paddling (SUP), outrigger canoe ocean racing, and dragon boat, is a regular member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the South East Asian Traditional Boat Association, the Asian Canoe Confederation (ACC), and the ICF. It is officially recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
