Rowers vie in Korea Olympic qualifying

MANILA, Philippines - Three Filipino rowers will be competing in the 2012 Asian Rowing Championships in the hope of qualifying for this year’s London Olympic Games.

Philippine Rowing Association president Benjie Ramos said during yesterday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session that Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Nestor Cordova, along with two other teammates – similarly bemedaled Alvin Amposta and Edgar Ilas – are entered in two of 14 events scheduled in the competition set April 26-29 in Chungjung, South Korea.

“Andex (Cordova) will be vying in his favorite single scull event where he is highly ranked in the regional level, while Amposta and Ilas will be racing in tandem in the double scull,” Ramos said during the public service forum, sponsored by Coca-Cola Export, FILA and UNTV.

Chances are bright that the Filipino boatmen will be able to make the London trip based on their Asian ranking and the clocking submitted in the latest competitions Cordova and company took part in.

Six Olympic slots are up for grabs in the single scull, while only three can make it in the double scull.

“In the two events, it is in the single scull where our chances are stronger,” Ramos told his audience, citing Cordova’s personal best of 7 minutes, 18 seconds in winning the 2K distance in the last SEA Games in Indonesia.

“The Asian championships is open only to Asian countries so that if Andex can approximate that clocking or even if he can only nake 7:18, his record in the last Asian competition, then he could easily qualify for the Olympics,” the PRA head said.

Ramos said he is also not discounting Amposat’s and Ilas’ chances in the double scull as the duo’s best 6:49 timing is well within the top three finishers in the last Asian tilt.

The Nationals have been in deep training for over a month since the Indonesian SEA Games at the La Mesa Dam waters where their performance are being monitored closely.

Cordova and Amposta, along with national teammates Benjie Tolentino and Roque Abala, will also be sent to Chungjung next month to participate in the Asian Indoor rowing Championships to gain the needed international exposure.