Handout photo.

Philippine paddlers had a bright start in the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, bagging two silver and four bronze medals in the competitions held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Thursday.

In their international debut, while performing in near ideal conditions, the Philipopines' junior bets took the silver in the 2,000-meter small boat event in a time of 10 minutes and 15.51 seconds.

READ: 27 countries headline ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Palawan

“This is a good showing for them considering they trained together for the time in August,” said national coach Duch Co of the squad composed of Fiona Reign Minsing, Carla Joy Cabugon, Maria Kristina Mane, Chanal Maglasang, Ronen Estoque, Ivan Ercilla, Dirk Quinones, Jordan Jurado, Doree Rill Blanco, Angelo Osin, John Rex Senora, Jessa Mery Divine Dinampo and John Brix Caasi.

The hosts began the day early in the morning by placing second in the women’s masters of the 2,000-meter small boat event, clocking 14:04.67.

The Philippine standard-bearers also had bronzes in the junior men’s, women’s open, 40+ Open, and 50+ Open races of the 2,000-meter small boat events.

More importantly, the national squad placed 10th overall in the mixed 2,000-meter race in a time of 9:46.34 in one of three races that will determine the top nine countries that will qualify for the World Games in Chengdu, China next year.

Vying in the field of 18 teams, Co said that the squad had to overcome the handicap of racing ninth and last in the first race when they had to overcome the wake of the boats ahead of them to get a good time.

“I am offering no excuses but sometimes this makes the race even more difficult if you are drawn near the end of the race,” explained Co of the event where each team is released at 10-second intervals.

“Kapag ganito ang posisyon mo sa huli, dapat magaling ang steersman mo. Overall, maganda naman ang nagawa ng team,” noted veteran national skipper OJ Fuentes.

Co said the silver lining in the showing of the hometown paddlers after Southeast Asian rivals Indonesia and Thailand finished second (9:30.99) and fifth (9:37.17), respectively, in the event.

“Since they have already qualified in the ICF Dragon Boat World Cup in Yichang, China the other weekend, the Philippines is technically now ranked No. 8 after the first qualifying event in this competition for the World Games,” Co said.

As the host, China is assured of one of the 10 slots available for the dragon boat sports.