Dragonboat world tilt organizers vow top-notch event

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation (PCKDF) and Puerto Princesa City are leaving no stone unturned making sure the 2024 ICF Dragonboat World Championships set from October 28 to November 4 will be like no other. 

For one, PCKDF president Len Escollante said it’s the first time a Southeast Asian country is hosting the world event that will bring in competitors from 26 countries with a couple more knocking on the doors. The event also serves as qualifying to the World Games in China next year.

“The paddlers alone, we expect over 1,500. Then we have other delegates. They are all excited to come here because they know that aside from the competition, there will be other things to do in Puerto Princesa and Palawan,” said Escollante in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“This will also be good for our tourism,” said Escollante, adding that top paddlers from powerhouse countries from Europe like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia then China from Asia are coming over.

The Philippines will field its best paddlers as they compete in the world event for the first time since 2018 when they won five golds, two silvers and one bronze in Atlanta, Georgia.

A total of 54 gold medals will be disputed in 200m, 500m and 2,000m races. The open national team division offers 18 gold medals like the masters 40-plus. Then nine golds each will be at stake in the 50-plus and juniors for boys and girls.

Escollante, who thanked Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucindo Bayron and the Philippine Sports Commission for their full support, said among the countries fielding big delegations are India with 150, Thailand and Iran with 80 each and the host country with 200.

“Malakas tayo dito because our paddlers are young and at their peak,” said Escollane, a former paddler and volleyball player, in the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.