Joanie Delgaco hails rising popularity of rowing in the Philippines

The 2026 PRA Indoor Meet marked another significant step forward for Philippine rowing, as the two-day competition drew a strong field of elite and emerging athletes over the weekend at the University Hotel in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Organized by the Philippines Rowing Association (PRA) with support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the event brought together some of the country’s top rowers, including Olympian Joanie Delgaco, Southeast Asian Games standouts Kristine Paraon and Cris Nievarez, as well as Edgar Ilas, Van Maxilom, and Ronnie Peñarendondo. Their presence underscored both the competitive level of the meet and its growing importance within the local rowing calendar.

More notably, this year’s edition highlighted the sport’s steady rise in popularity across the Philippines. From only a handful of participants in its earlier staging, the PRA Indoor Meet has now expanded to more than 100 entries—an encouraging sign for a discipline that has long remained under the radar in a sports landscape dominated by basketball and boxing.

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Delgaco, the country’s first Filipina Olympic rower and a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, expressed her enthusiasm over the sport’s continued growth. Having witnessed its development firsthand, she emphasized how far Philippine rowing has come in terms of visibility and participation.

“We started from a small space. Now, rowing is more recognized, many people know about it, and many are getting interested. Now, I see they are really enjoying it,” Delgaco said in a media interaction.

LOOK: Olympian Joanie Delgaco expressed her joy in seeing the growth of rowing in the Philippines.

From just a handful of entries last year, the 2025 SEA Games medalist noted that the Philippine Rowing Association Indoor Meet has over a hundred participants this time around. pic.twitter.com/VBvwPsoFVE

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Her sentiments were echoed by fellow national team member Kristine Paraon, who highlighted the importance of sustained support and grassroots involvement to ensure rowing’s upward trajectory continues.

“I’m happy that rowing is getting more recognized in the Philippines. PRA is really happy, many are joining the meet, unlike before. Rowing is more known, and I hope more will support it. Hope more will support and join rowing, PRA is open to those who want to try,” Paraon added.

Beyond serving as a competitive platform, the PRA Indoor Meet also plays a crucial role in identifying and developing future members of the national team. With the event acting as a primary recruitment hub, aspiring athletes are given the opportunity to showcase their potential in front of coaches and officials.

Leading the national team program is head coach Aliaksandra Tsekhanovich, who has been at the helm for the past three months. The foreign mentor praised the meet’s role in strengthening the country’s rowing pipeline, while also pointing out the need for broader structural development to sustain long-term growth.

“I think we need to establish more rowing clubs in the regions – just in general. We need to really make rowing accessible for everyone. The Philippines is surrounded by water and there are so many places to row. We just have to grow the sport, do it right and provide more access so people can learn about it. We need to make it more popular so people can actually visualize themselves rowing,” Tsekhanovich said.

Her remarks reflect a broader vision for Philippine rowing—one that goes beyond elite competition and focuses on accessibility, grassroots expansion, and nationwide engagement. With the country’s natural geography offering vast potential for water sports, stakeholders believe that rowing can flourish with the right infrastructure and sustained investment.

As participation numbers continue to climb and more athletes enter the fold, the PRA Indoor Meet stands as a clear indicator that rowing in the Philippines is gaining momentum. With continued support from governing bodies, athletes, and the wider sporting community, the sport appears poised to reach new heights in the years to come.

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