PHL dragonboat rowers bring home medal haul

Rowers from the Philippine Dragonboat Federation did the country proud in international competition anew, bringing home an impressive medal haul in two tournaments in as many weeks.

The Cobra Philippine Dragonboat Federation team bagged two golds, one silver and one bronze at the first International Dragonboat Federation Dragon Boat World Cup in China.

It won two golds in the standard premier mixed 100 meters and standard premier mixed 500 meters, a silver in standard premier mixed 200 meters, and one bronze in 400m relay small boat category.

Such a strong finish allowed the Philippine rowers to grab the number two spot in the tournament - a week after getting one gold and two silvers at the Macau Asian Dragon Boat Championship.

With the win, the Philippine team has garnered three golds, three silvers and one bronze in just two weeks.

Members of the 2014 Cobra PDBF include paddlers from the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and the best from PDBF club teams.

PDBF president Marcia Cristobal noted the team's win at Macau "lit the warrior's spirit in the team, and this showed in their performance at the World Cup."

"Competing with only the best the world has to offer, our paddlers moved as one to show the world what Lakas ng Pinas looks like in competition," Cristobal said.

Olympics of dragonboat racing

After the World Cup - considered the Olympics of dragonboat racing - the Philippine team vaulted three places from its previous Number 5 ranking. In the process, it bested powerhouse teams from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, French Polynesia, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Hungary, Macau, Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, and the US.

Meanwhile, Cobra energy drink senior brand manager Dan Ong said the Philippine team showed there is "truly no limit to what Filipinos can do."

"The heart of a warrior is in every Philippine paddler, and we hope this win lights up the fire in every Filipino to persevere, power on, and perform, however small or large our endeavors may be," Ong said. - Joel Locsin / AMD, GMA News