PH ROWERS WAGI NG 6 SILVER, 2 BRONZE MEDALS SA ASIAN VIRTUAL INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

PINANGUNAHAN ni Tokyo Olympics veteran Chris Nievarez ang six-silver at two-bronze medal haul sa Asian Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships na idinaos nitong weekend para magpakita ng potensiyal sa paglahok ng Pilipinas sa World Indoor Championships na nakatakda sa susunod na buwan.

Si Nievarez ay naorasan ng  six minutes at 25.90 seconds upang kunin ang silver sa men’s under-23 2,000-meter event na umakit ng 15 kalahok at napagwagian ni Ho Yin Wong ng Hong Kong.

Bukod kay  21-year-old Nievarez, nagpakita rin ng potensiyal si Kristine Paraon, 19, na nanalo ng  silver medals sa eighth-athlete women’s under-23 500-meter at 2,000-meter events.

Nakasikwat din ng silver medals para sa Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) sina Zuriel Sumintac sa men’s lightweight 500 meters at Ateneo rowers Joachim de Jesus sa men’s lightweight under-23 500 meters at Alyssa Go sa women’s lightweight under-23 500 meters.

Nakopo naman nina Christian Joseph Jasmin (men’s lightweight 2000 meters) at Kharl Julianne Sha (women’s lightweight under-23 500 meters) ang bronze medals.

“We are very satisfied with the performance of our rowers that despite the Covid-19 pandemic that limits face-to-face and actual training on the water, they stayed in competitive form,” wika ni PRA president Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.

“We are looking forward to the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi and the Asian Games in Hangzhou later this year, and this is a good start for the team as they gear up for these major international competitions,” dagdag ni Gregorio.

Labingsiyam na rowers—12 men at 7 women—ang lumahok sa  virtual competition na idinaos sa ikalawang sunod na taon dahil sa pandemya, ayon kay PRA treasurer Magnum Membrere.

“We are happy and proud of the results,” sabi ni national team head coach Edgardo Maerina. “These medals inspire the entire team to work harder this year.”

Ang Asian Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships ay organisa ng Asian Rowing Federation at hinost ng Hong Kong China Rowing Association.

Ang kumpetisyon ay isa sa maraming sanctioned events para sa qualification sa World Rowing Indoor Championships na orihinal na nakatakda sa  Hamburg, Germany, subalit napagpasiyahang gawing virtual sa February 25 at 26.

Ang iba pang miyembro ng koponan ay sina Karl Julliane Sha, Joanie Delgaco, Amelyn Pagulayan, Athens Greece Tolentino, Van Maxilom, Edgar Ilas at Ateneo’s Emmanuel Joseph Obaña, kasama si coach Con Fornea. Si Tolentino ay anak ni Olympian Benjamin Tolentino.

Ang koponan ay lumahok sa isang bubble setup mula sa PRA quarters sa La Mesa Dam sa ­Quezon City.