COVID-19 blows away paddlers’ Tokyo aspiration

MANILA, Philippines — Olympic hopefuls from the canoe-kayak team pulled out from the Tokyo qualifying race after one of their three members tested positive for COVID-19.

The results, which came out on the same day the team was tested Thursday, prompted the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF) and the paddlers themselves to withdraw from the 2021 Canoe Slalom Asian Olympic Qualifier set April 30 to May 2 in Pattaya, Thailand.

“Three tested positive, one paddler, two coaches,” a source told The STAR.

Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Hermie Macaranas, Ojay Fuentes and John Paul Selencio are the paddlers that were supposed to leave for Pattaya.

There were reports that the two that tested negative were given the option to fly and compete, but the PCKF along with the paddlers decided otherwise.

The new cases added to the two national athletes including one SEAG silver medal winner who earlier tested positive for the global health malady.

As these developed, PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez called on everyone to take extra care.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Task Force has approved the recommendation of the PSC to allow the resumption of the national athletes’ bubble training in Calamba, Laguna.

“Provided, that there will be heightened compliance with Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate Strategies, particularly on the limited interactions with persons outside of the training bubble,” the IATF said in a resolution.— Christina Mendez