Cobra-Pal gains 2 more ‘dragon’ golds

MANILA, Philippines - The Cobra-Pal Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) team scooped up two more gold medals in the small boat category to hike its collection to four in the 12th IDBF World Nations Dragon Boat Championships Saturday in Welland, Ontario, Canada.

Sustaining their charge in the 500-meter distance the previous day, the Pinoy paddlers annexed the top plums in the premier mixed and senior A mixed events of the 200-meter races.

Phl clocked 1:41.682 to beat Macau (1:44.697) and Hungary (1:46.136) for the premier mixed diadem.

The Filipinos bested Macau and Hungary in all three rounds of the race, logging 50.843, 50.839 and 51.079.

They earlier copped the Senior A mixed crown with a winning 1:51.111 built around runs of 56.835, 57.372, and 56.276. Rival Puerto Rico was listed as DNS (did not start).

The paddlers, though, fell short of podium finishes in two other events.

Fielding a crew mixed with women, Phl wound up fourth in the premier open, which was won by Chinese Taipei, and fifth in the Senior A open, which was ruled by Germany.

The Filipinos topped the premier mixed and Senior A races in the earlier 500-meter competitions, surpassing their pre-tournament target of three golds.

They occupy second spot in the overall medal tally in the small boat category behind Australia, which has an 8-4-2 collection entering the final day of hostilities.