The Philippine rowing national team is targeting a training camp in Yangzhou, China for a month to ramp up its bid for the qualifiers of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Head coach Ed Maerina told DAILY TRIBUNE they are waiting for the approval from the Philippine Sports Commission but should it push through, the camp will last from 18 February to 18 March with five rowers benefitting from the exposure.
Cris Nievarez was the lone rower who represented the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where he got as far as the quarterfinal.
“We’ll be training in Yangzhou. We trained there back then in preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and before that, we trained there for two months,” Maerina said.
“We want to enhance their strength and skills. The athletes are more focused when they train overseas.”
Nievarez will be joined by SEA Games silver medalist Joanie Delgaco, Kristine Paraon and lightweight double sculls rowers Zuriel Sumintac and Rynjie Peñaredondo during the month-long camp.
The Philippines will be competing in the Asian & Oceania Continental Qualification Regatta from 19 to 21 April in Chengju, South Korea and Final Qualification Regatta from 19 to 21 May in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Maerina said they are looking to join tournaments also before the qualifiers to gauge themselves.
