Joanie Delgaco is aiming to make history as she competes in the final of the women’s single sculls event at the 19th Asian Games on Monday at the Fuyang Water Sports Center in Hangzhou, China.
Delgaco, who is 25 years old, will be the underdog in the race, which starts at 9:10 a.m., as she faces a formidable cast of competitors led by a seasoned Uzbek who won the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics last year.
Anna Prakaten, born in Bulgaria, played for Russia and is now competing for Uzbekistan. She is heavily favored after topping the semifinals in seven minutes and 47.88 seconds, far ahead of Delgaco’s 8:18.30 qualifying time for the medal round.
Also in the field are Shino Yonekawa of Japan, Liu Ruiqi of China, Leung Wing Wun of Hong Kong, and Huang Yi Ting of Chinese Taipei.
If luck is on Delgaco’s side, it will be the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the rowing competition of this prestigious continental tournament. It will also be their first medal since Alvin Amposta and Nestor Cordova clinched a bronze medal in the men’s lightweight doubles sculls at the Busan edition of the Asiad in 2002.
Philippine Rowing Association President Patrick Gregorio admitted that the battle will not be easy, but she expects that Delgaco will go all out to make history.
“I’m very happy that Joanie is in the finals. She is the only Southeast Asian rower in the finals tomorrow,” Gregorio, who will be in the stands when Delgaco competes, said. “It’s going to be tough competition against the No. 1 seed from Uzbekistan, followed by China, Japan, and Chinese Taipei. Joanie will be racing in Lane 2 alongside the No. 1 seed. Hopefully, she will outperform herself.”
Gregorio admitted that the Uzbek will be a tough competitor to beat, but there is a chance that Delgaco, the pride of Bicol, will pull off an earth-shaking upset.
“Joanie’s personal best is 7:39, which she achieved last week during training at the La Mesa Dam,” Gregorio said. “If she duplicates it, she has a good chance of pulling off an upset.”
Also competing on the final day of the competition will be Tokyo Olympics veteran Cris Nievarez. Nievarez will be competing in the Final B of the men’s single sculls event at 9:20 a.m. to determine his final standing in this tournament.
