Joanie Delgaco ended her women’s single sculls campaign at the 20th Asian Games with a sixth-place finish in Final A on Thursday at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course in Japan.
Delgaco clocked 8:01.63 in the medal race, finishing behind China’s Zhang Xinyu, who ruled the event in 7:21.53. Uzbekistan’s Anna Prakaten took the silver medal, while Iran’s Fatemeh Mojallal Topraghhale settled for bronze.
Although she missed out on the podium, Delgaco took pride in completing the race and giving everything she had after months of preparation.
“Hindi man po naka-podium, thankful po ako kasi natapos ko ang race. Maayos naman po ang naging performance ko at wala akong pinagsisisihan kasi ibinigay ko naman po ang lahat ng best ko,” Delgaco said.
The Filipina rower said she drew motivation from the sacrifices she and her team made throughout their preparations, including a two-and-a-half-month training camp in Germany after their initial buildup in the Philippines.
(C) POC Media Group
“Sa starting line pa lang, iniisip ko na lahat ng pinaghirapan namin sa training. Nag-start po kami sa Pilipinas, tapos sa Germany, kung saan nag-training kami ng two months and a half. Doon po ako nag-base at talagang inisip ko lahat ng pinaghirapan namin. Sana po, nadala ko rito kaso kinulang pa rin po talaga,” she said.
Delgaco admitted that emotions came over her after the race, particularly because she knew she had given her best but still came up short of a medal. Still, she chose to look ahead, believing the result can serve as motivation as she prepares for her next major goal.
The rower also expressed gratitude to her family, especially her parents and siblings, for their continued support and for reminding her to keep believing in herself.
With her Asian Games campaign now over, Delgaco has already set her sights on the next challenge: the Olympic qualification campaign next year.
“Wala na po akong iniisip ngayon kundi babawi talaga ako next year sa qualification sa Olympics. Isa po ito sa naging motivation ko para bumawi,” she said.
Delgaco now turns the page on the Asian Games and begins looking toward another chance to chase her Olympic dream.
