Busan Asian Gamers claim rowing silver

GUANDONG, China– Filipino rowers, led by Asian games veterans Nestor Cordova and Alvin Amposta, bagged three medals in the Asian rowing championships which ended here last Sunday.

Cordova and Amposta, silver winners in last year’s Busan Asian Games, fought their heavily favored Chinese rivals almost on even terms in the 2,000-meter lightweight coxless pair event. But they salvaged only a silver in a time of 6 minutes 57.93 seconds, close behind the Chinese who clocked 6:54.36 but well ahead of bronze medalist India.

Cordova and Amposta clinched their second medal in the 14-country championship—a bronze in the lightweight double scull race where they finished behind China and North Korea.

Jose Rodriguez copped the third RP medal—a bronze in the lightweight men’s single scull race. He finished behind a Vietnamese and a Chinese.

Sydney Olympian Benjie Tolentino turned out to be a big disappointment as he came in only fifth in the men’s single scull race where China, Japan and North Korea finished in that order.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand were the other Southeast Asian countries which competed in the prestigious event. Other rowers came from Hong Kong, South Korea and Kazakhstan.

"The boys did well, considering that we entered only four events," said rowing president and Philippine Olympic Committee treasurer Benjamin Ramos, who headed the small RP contingent. "This was a good preparation for our coming campaign in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games."

Filipino rowers also had difficulty adjusting to local conditions since they were given their boats only three days after their arrival. Tolentino and Rodriguez also got boats, which were five kilos heavier than the others.