THE Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. (Pads) has started its six-month program for the 12th IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Aix Le Biens, France slated on Aug. 24 to 30, 2020.

“The periodic training program is designed by our coaching team to ensure the quality of our paddlers when we compete in France,” Pads executive director John Paul Maunes said.

“There’s phasing on our training to ensure the improvement of our athletes,” he added.

Pads made history last year as the first Para-Dragonboat team to win a gold medal in the Para-Division of the 14th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Nations Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.

“Currently we got an exercise scientist thru the support of the Australian government to improve our strength and conditioning program as we prepare for our next big competition,” he said.

Maunes said the team is also competing in the Marina DBS Regatta in May. He said this event is the biggest dragon boat race in Singapore. The team is also eyeing to compete in the first leg of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) Regatta in Manila Bay in March.

The Cebu-based dragon boat team is composed of differently-abled paddlers. (RSC)