The Philippines will spearhead a world class dragonboat competition in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan scheduled on October 28 to November 4. This tournament will also serve as a qualification for the 2025 World Games.
According to Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation or PCKDF head Leonora “Len” Escollante, the federation already coordinated to the provincial government as well as to the local government unit of Puerto Princesa, Palawan for the necessary preparations of the venue for the said event and for the benefit of the participants.
They are also very grateful to the Philippine Sports Commission and to all the local officials in the province because of their unwavering support in their endeavor and also to their program and projects when it comes to this kind of sport in the Philippines. She also thanked Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucindo Bayron for their full support, said among the countries fielding big delegations are India with 150, Thailand and Iran with 80 each and the host country with 200.
“We're also a host country. And then, of course, with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission, and then the city government of Puerto Princesa, we were able to host this very well,” said Escollante during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, October 22, at the Rizal Memorial Complex.
As of writing, a total number of 26 countries confirmed the attendance to the Dragon Boat World Championships, and have tickets already, even their bookings have already been confirmed in different hotels in Puerto Princesa City.
“So right now, we have 26 countries that have confirmed and have tickets already. And there are still coming, like Kazakhstan and Macau, we're still waiting for their entries and flight details. But those 26 countries, we already confirmed and booked them in different hotels in Puerto Princesa City.”
“The paddlers alone, we expect over 1,500. Then we have other delegates. They are all excited to come here because they know that aside from the competition, there will be other things to do in Puerto Princesa and Palawan.,” said Escollante
Escollante also emphasized the program of the federation when it comes to strengthening the grassroots program to those who are willing to engage in boat paddling sports.
Escollante supplemented that through the collaborative effort of PSC and PCKDF, they are now donating boats to the different LGUs in the country and they are now conducting sports clinics in which the LGUs are task to invite the officials from PCKDF to send coaches and trainers to assist the young athletes, as well as their LGUs, throughout the country.
“Isa po yan sa programa ng Federation natin, yung mga grassroots natin in which some of those from PSC and in federation, we are in donating boats to some LGUs, so ang gagawin na lang po nila ay bibili nalang sila ng sarili nilang paddle, kasi ang paddle po ay dapat akma dun sa size nila,” Escollante remarked. “We have projects din sa mga clinics, you can invite our federation and so that we can send coaches and trainers to different LGUs kung sino po yung interested magpaturo.”
