The Philippines is hoping to build on the momentum from last year's International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championships as its crew warm up the paddles for The World Games Chengdu 2025.
With the discipline set to debut on the official programme of The World Games, the Southeast Asians said it would be an honour to be part of this historical event.
At the 2024 World Championships at home in Puerto Princesa, they showcased their class across distances, eventually topping the medals table with 11 gold medals.
Lealyn Baligasa, part of the crew heading to Chengdu, eyes more of the same with one week to go before the action begins in China.
“As an athlete, this is not just about a few months of preparation,” Baligasa said.
“For us, this is a dream and a culmination of all the effort and training we have had since we started being part of the national team, and even before then.”
Despite the success, coach Rommel Dionio insists that it is important to keep their feet on the ground and continue the grind.
While expectations are high back home, Dionio says the squad is more motivated than ever.
“We are making a conscious effort to stay grounded and trust the training that we are putting in,” Dionio said.
“More importantly, we are reminding ourselves why we are here, and that is our love for the sport.
“While we are staying focused on the goal of winning, we also recognise that the journey is just as important, and that we should not forget to have fun along the way.”
Aware of the threats from other Asian countries and the European counterparts, Dionio is taking nothing for granted.
The coach also wants to avoid complacency kicking in, so they can be in the best position to compete for medals.
The Philippine Canoe and Kayak Federation (PCKF) has invested heavily in Dragon Boat recently, with multiple Level 1 coaching seminars among other initiaitves.
Dionio hopes all these efforts will reflect in their athletes' performances and called for the paddle sport community in their country to tune in and cheer for them at The World Games.
“We are adopting a holistic and science-based training programme to address key performance areas. We are combining evidence-based methods to make data-driven adjustments to optimize performance,” Dionio added.
“We are ensuring that our team is not just physically prepared and mentally sharp but also synchronised and fully aligned with the tactics and goals.”
Full squad: Katherine Goesaert, John James Pelagio, Roger Kenneth Masbate, Alfred Reformina, John Rey Barca, Roberto Pantaleon, Jims Vencent Arseno, Rosalyn Esguerra, Roda Daban, Jonnalyn Quinones, Lealyn Baligasa, Joanna Barca.
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