Paddling into the world of dragon boat racing


Raevathi Supramaniam Kamal Ariffin

WHEN we think of dragon boat, we usually think of the dumpling festival. But when it comes to dragon boat racing, it is a year-round competitive sport with more than 50 million rowers worldwide.

Kuala Lumpur-based dragon boat team, Argo Naga, recently organised an open day at Marina Putrajaya to encourage more people to participate in the sport.

Participants were given a crash course in dragon boat racing before finishing off with a mini race.

The open day also acted as a recruitment drive for Argo Naga. Those who were interested could sign up for a longer eight-week course.

When it comes to competing in international and local regattas, rowers would need to undergo rigorous training for six months or more.

A standard crew consists of 20 paddlers, a drummer at the bow and a steerer at the rear. However, crew size can vary from between 10 to 50 depending on the size of the boat.

A winning team could cover a distance of 200m in less than 50 seconds. - June 26, 2018.


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