FORMER PORTUGUESE WORLD CHAMPION IS 5TH IN THE WORLD “RANKING”
Joana Schenker looking for the world title at Sintra Pro Fest
The IBC World Tour stage started today in Praia Grande,
sponsored by the Sintra City Council and integrated into the Sintra Pro Fest, a Bodyboard event that also included a National and a European stage (ETB) and in which several Portuguese athletes compete in the women’s, pro junior men’s and Dropknee categories.
On this first day, the waves were 4 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) in size and offshore winds provided very good conditions for the first stages in all categories of the competition.
Joana Schenker, who has just won the European circuit stage, continues to pursue her chances of winning her second world title (she was world champion in 2017).
“Praia Grande is a beach that I really like. I have never missed an edition of the Sintra Pro and I won here in 2017, the year in which I became world champion, in addition to being present in three more finals”, said the bodyboarder from Sagres who currently occupies 5th place in the IBC “ranking”. Winning classification by Japanese Sari Ohara.
“My goal is to finish the year as far ahead in the ranking as possible. The title is still on the horizon, but Sari is ahead and it will be very difficult to beat her. However, from second to eighth place, everything is open.”
Already in action, in round two of the women’s tournament, the Portuguese Madalena Padrela, Mariana Rosa and national champion Filipa Broeiro served, all passing. Along the way, Alice Pereira and Filipa Freitas remained, while Mariana Figueiredo and Madalena Valério gave way in the first round.
In the men’s junior pro, Bernardo Pacheco and Francisco Ferreira passed the first two rounds of the day and continue in the race. Less luck for Rafael Nóbrega, Gonçalo Paulino, Gustavo Sobrinho, Henrique Grilo and Afondso Paulino, who stayed along the way.
At Dropknee, Renato Paço passed the first round and joined Nicolas Rosner (who already had seeding) in the second round.
Tomorrow, the competition continues, with the match scheduled for 8:30 am, in Praia Grande.
