PH rowing team bows out of Olympic contention

Despite a gallant stand, the hopes to barge into the Tokyo Olympics have been formally washed away for the Philippine Rowing Team after a no-win result in the 2021 Asia and Oceania Olympic Continental Qualification Regatta in Tokyo, Japan this week.

Cris Nievarez came closest to an Olympic berth.

The 2019 SEA Games gold medalist placed fourth in the men’s single sculls and had to race in the repechage, in which he finished first after clocking eight minutes and 11.40 seconds to claim one of the 12 slots in the semis round.

In the semifinals today, however, the 20-year-old rower finished fifth, kissing his Olympics dreams goodbye.

Aside from Nievarez, two pairs of Filipino paddlers have also bowed out from contention.

The duo of Joanie Delgaco and Melcah Jen Caballero yesterday finished third in the lightweight women’s double sculls where only the top finisher will have an automatic slot in the final round.

They had to race in repechage but missed the bus heading to Tokyo as well after winding up in third spot.

Meanwhile, the tandem of Zuriel Sumintac and Roque Abala Jr. ended the lightweight men’s double sculls at fourth place, after which they were relegated  to repechage on the same day.

Sumintac and Abala, unfortunately, saw their Olympic chances slip away after only placing fourth behind South Korea at third, Kazakhstan at second and Uzbekistan at the first place.  —Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News