Filipino dragon boat team bags gold in Guam tourney

The Philippine SAG-1 dragon boat team captured two overall championships and six gold medals in the 4th Guam Thanksgiving Day Dragon Boat Festival in Guam, USA from November 23 to 24.

The SAG-1 squad, which is made up of working professionals who train on weekends, dominated all the 200 and 400-meter events in the two-day tournament.

The Filipino squad finished the mixed 200 and 400-meter standard (22-seater) categories with 2:02.46 and 4:41.27 outputs, respectively, for the gold.

They also topped the finals of the 200 and 400-meter open small boat (12-seater) categories after clocking 1:02.03 and 2:20.32, respectively.

In the women's division, the Filipino squad ruled the 200 and 400-meter small boat (12-seater) categories after registering 2:25.54 and 5:50.04, respectively.

“We were overwhelmed with the results, but I also believe that the two months of hard training by the team led us to victory,” SAG-1 Dragon Boat team captain Michael Lara said in a press release.

"We are not just a club team once we join an international event. Every stroke of our paddles is dedicated to the Philippines. We are grateful to represent our country in international competitions such as this one," head coach Ric Nacional added.

With their feat, Lara hopes the sport gains popularity in the Philippines to inspire more Filipinos.

Among the countries who participated in the competition are Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

The Manila-based squad will next see action in the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation Club Crew Challenge Series 4 on December 15 at the Malawaan Park in Subic. — LA, GMA News