IMPRESSED by the Philippines' performances in the recent Singapore Open-Asian Windsurfing Championships, Myanmar has invited Filipino windsurfers for joint training as part of the host country’s preparations for the 27th Southeast Asian Games in December.
“Myanmar wanted us to train with their windsurfers after Geylord Coveta won the Asian RS:One Championship and Harold Madrigal and Yancy Kaibigan were one-two in the junior division of the same event,” said national coach Raul Lazo in yesterday’s PSA forum at Shakey’s Malate branch.
“It was an all-expenses paid invitation by Myanmar but we declined it since we didn’t like the host country to scout us,” said Lazo of his talented trio, who loom as strong gold-medal prospects in the Myanmar meet.
A bronze medalist in the Indonesia SEA Games in 2011, Coveta was the toast of the Singapore competition when he upset reigning Indonesian SEA Games champion Sulaksana Ona to capture the gold medal.
Lazo added in the same forum presented by Shakey’s and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), that aside from Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand, regional powerhouses in the sport, also fielded their national teams in the event.
All natives of Anilao, Batangas, considered the country’s windsurfing mecca, Lazo said Coveta, 31, who also won the World RS:One crown in Boracay last month, Madrigal, 18, and Kaibigan, 16, have devoted an entire year to their build-up for the SEA Game.
“Both Madrigal and Kaibigan have stopped schooling, while Coveta has set aside his livelihood as a part-time windsurfing instructor so they can focus their attention on the Myanmar Games,” said Lazo, who has been handling the national team for nearly two years now.
He also credited the training program of former national standout Reneric Moreno, who is now an assistant coach, for the recent strong showing of his wards, adding that his promising daughter, Margarita, 16, will also join the team that will compete in the Myanmar Games.
Because of the expensive equipment needed, the coach thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for providing the funds so they could purchase quality windsurfing boards from abroad to be competitive with their regional rivals.
As part of their SEA Games tune-up, Lazo said the Pinoy windsurfers will likely compete in the world windsurfing championship that will be held in Turkey in the middle of the year and the Hong Kong Open in November, a month before the regional sportsfest.
“We can’t promise winning the gold outright, but all I can say is that we will be there in Myanmar fighting hard to take top honors,” the coach said.
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