17th Asian Games Coveta Phl flag-bearer in rites

MANILA, Philippines - Windsurfer Geylord Coveta has been tapped as flag-bearer of the Philippine delegation to the 17th Asian Games which fires off Saturday in Incheon, South Korea.

Coveta, who made waves in the 2012 Boracay RS One World Championship and the 2013 Singapore Open Asian Championships, will take over Gilas player Japeth Aguilar.

The 6-foot-9 Aguilar was the original choice as flag-bearer for the Sept. 19 opener. But he had to beg off because the flight of the Gilas players to Incheon was moved to Sept. 20.

Richie Garcia, chef-de-mission of the Philippine delegation, yesterday named Coveta to replace Aguilar because the windsurfer has a world championship experience.

Coveta, from Anilao, Batangas, one of the country’s top windsurfing destinations, will share the honor of being an Asian flag-bearer with great Pinoy athletes like Paeng Nepomuceno and Mikee Cojuangco.

Nepomuceno, a legendary bowler, served as flag-bearer in the 2006 Asian Games while Cojuangco, winner of the equestrian gold in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, did the honor in 2010 in Guangzhou.

Coveta, a medal hopeful in this Asian Games, deserves the honor.

He stunned the field when he won the title in the 2012 RS One event in Boracay, and once again delivered by winning in the tough Singapore Open.

A bronze medalist in the 2011 SEA Games, Coveta stunned the reigning SEA Games champion from Indonesia, Sulaksana Ona, in the 2013 Singapore Open.