Dragon boat team mulls pull-out from RP Asiad delegation

Problems with their training venue could force the Philippine dragon boat team to pull out from the official RP delegation in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China next month. The 48-member dragon boat squad, one of the gold-medal favorites in the November 12-27 Asiad, is dejected over failing to train at the La Mesa Watershed and Eco-Park in Quezon City. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has requested the national rowers to undergo qualifying time trials this weekend to prove that they deserve to be included in the RP delegation. The RP dragon boat team, which won world titles in the past, currently trains at the Manila Bay. It has informed POC secretary general and RP Chef de Mission Joey Romasanta that the team is prepared to conduct the time trials at this venue. But Romasanta opposed the plan of holding the time trials at Manila Bay since the water conditions are different from those in Guangzhou. The POC said it is proper to conduct the trials at the La Mesa Watershed and Eco-Park since the Asian Games rowing events will be held in a lake where the water conditions would be similar. Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) technical director and coach Nestor Ilagan said they are willing to comply with the POC's request provided that they be given the chance to train at La Mesa dam. "We are willing to undergo the time trials but on the condition that we also be given the chance to train at the La Mesa Dam. We need at least 10 days to train before we subject these rowers to the qualifying time trials," said Ilagan. A total of six events will be at stake in the Guangzhou Asian Games, with the national rowers confident of winning at least a gold medal. – JVP, GMANews.TV