Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(c) Philippine Rowing Association

19th Asian Games

Rower Joanie Delgaco looks to paddle way to Asiad gold


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.

#ReadMore  FEU earns Final Four in wild finish against Adamson

“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.

Written By


You May Also Like

News

Patrick “Pato” Gregorio is set to assume the position of chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), marking a new era in the agency...

2024 Summer Olympics

The PBA gave due recognition to the athletes that represented the Philippines in the recent Paris Olympics as part of its Season 49 opener...

2024 Summer Olympics

Joanie Delgaco ended her Olympic Games debut with an overall 20th-place finish in the Paris 2024 Rowing women’s single sculls after crossing the finish...

2024 Summer Olympics

Joanie Delgaco missed out on the medal semifinal races, finishing in sixth place with a time of 7:58.30 in the Olympic Games Paris 2024...

2024 Summer Olympics

Joanie Delgaco made sure not to let up this time and won Heat 1 of the repechage races in the Olympic Games Paris 2024...

2024 Summer Olympics

Joanie Delgaco got the Philippine Centennial Team’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 campaign underway with a fourth-place finish in the heats of the Women’s Singles...

2024 Summer Olympics

The Paris sky was draped in a tapestry of clouds, and the air was thick with anticipation as the world gathered for the grand...

2024 Summer Olympics

On early Saturday morning, Manila time, the 2024 Paris Games officially begin. This also marks a historic moment for the Philippines as it celebrates...

Advertisement