PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The Philippine team was off to a fine start in the 2024 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, bagging two silvers and four bronzes through the opening day action at the Baywalk here on Thursday, Oct. 31.

Enduring the scorching heat and the rough waters, the Filipinos delivered two silvers in the juniors mixed and 50+ womens’ masters divisions while the bronzes came from the women's, men’s juniors, 50+ masters open and 40+ masters mixed divisions – all on the small boat 2000-meter distance events.

The juniors mixed team clocked 10:13.51 minutes to place second behind Poland which registered 10:01.76 and ahead of India which recorded 10:22.57. 

The 50+ masters team, on the other hand, also bagged the silver with a time of 14:04.67 behind Canada which was full boat ahead of the hosts with a 13:05.27 time. Sweden registered a DNF while Germany signed off in the race.

Not as fortunate, however, is the small boat mixed team which wound up 10th overall in the tight 2000-meter race – one of the three events that serves as a qualifier to the 2025 World Games in China.

The Nationals finished at the sixth place of its heat, clocking in 9:46.34, just a little behind winner Hungary which recorded 9:30.21. 

Despite not bagging any gold on the opening day, national team coach Duch Co was pretty much satisfied with the PH paddlers’ performance, considering that the 2000m races are not really their strength.

“Bonus na lang ito yung today kasi 2 km is not really our game. More on sprint talaga pero really thankful kasi may endurance talaga yung mga athletes,” said Co.

Seeing her team’s performance in the 2000m events, Co is also optimistic of the team’s chances of finally bagging gold medals in the coming days of the tournament.

“With the women’s kanina maganda yung movement nila sa boat. Sabay-sabay talaga di bumibigay. 2k is mahirap talaga patibayan, napaka importante ng endurance and power. Ngayon ko lang nakakita na ganun kaganda yung movement kanina,” she added.

The mixed team in the standard boat 200m directly qualified to the Finals after topping the heat with a 40.34 sec, defeating Ukraine (49.90) and Czech Republic (52.00).

Earlier in the day, AFP chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr. graced the colorful opening ceremony alongside PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron and ICF President Thomas Konietzko

“This moment echoes the United Nations call to use sports to foster peaceful and inclusive societies in supporting our athletes,” said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in his speech delivered by Brawner as he was not able to attend the opening ceremony to monitor the situation with Typhoon Leon.

“We stand for respect and integrity. We deepened the bonds that connect our people and in doing so we empower the nations. We represent let sports serve as a symbol of our shared humanity, weaving together the diverse threats of our societies as we launch the paddle together for climate change,” he added.