HANGZHOU, China — Her lean frame belies her amazing strength. 

That’s rower Joanie Delgaco who will go for history as she vies in the final of the women’s single sculls event of the 19th Asian Games on Monday, Sept. 25, at the Fuyang Water Sports Center here. 

Delgaco, however, is a clear underdog in a contest loaded with heavyweights, foremost of them is Uzbek Anna Prakaten. 

The race is set at 9:10 a.m. with the 25-year-old Delgaco determined to pull all the stops to finish respectably. 

Prakaten, who was born in Bulgaria but is now competing for Uzbekistan, is tipped to dominate the event owing to her fantastic time of seven minutes and 47.88 seconds, way ahead of Delgaco’s 8:18.30. 

Also making it to the final round are Shino Yonekawa of Japan, Liu Ruiqi of China, Leung Wing Wun of Hong Kong and Huang Yi Ting of Chinese Taipei.

 If she can summon enough energy, Delgaco’s can end the country’s 21-year medal drought in the Asiad or since Alvin Amposta and Nestor Cordova clinched a bronze medal in the men’s lightweight doubles sculls in the Busan edition. 

Her feat was already enough to make Philippine Rowing Association president Patrick Gregorio happy although he knows his ward is up for a huge challenge. “I’m very happy that Joanie is in the finals.

She is the only Southeast Asian rower in the finals tomorrow,” beamed Gregorio.