KUCHING: Teams from around the globe have converged here for the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta.
The competition is expected to showcase intense rivalry with more than 2,000 paddlers from 21 nations braving the scorching sun on Saturday, racing past the iconic Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
The three-day regatta, which will end Sunday (Oct 27) involves eight categories of competition.
These are the International Premier Open for 20 paddlers, International Mixed Premier for 20 paddlers, International Premier Open for 12 paddlers, International Mixed Premier for 12 paddlers, and International Women’s Premier for 12 paddlers.
Additional categories are the International Masters Open for 12 paddlers, the International Cancer Survivors Open for 12 paddlers, and the Race for Harmony for 20 paddlers.
As the competition picked up pace, adrenaline flushed participants excitedly shared their views on the competition in Kuching.
BEVERLY ALMENDRAS, 42,
Qatar Dragon Boat Alliance team manager
This is my first visit to Sarawak, though I’ve been to Malaysia before. Just this month, we’ve already been to Shanghai in the first week of October and Cyprus in the second week, making this our third trip of the month.
Our team is quite diverse, representing multiple nationalities, not just Filipinos, but also members from Spain, Venezuela, Egypt, and Mexico.
We always look forward to events like this because the Asian competition is such an incredible experience. Watching the different techniques showcased by Asian teams is inspiring, and overall, it’s been a fantastic experience for us.
I would definitely love to join this event again next year. Thank you so much for the warm hospitality and the amazing ambience here.
ALEXANDER EROA TUBAR, 42,
Qatar Dragon Boat Alliance coach
This is my third time in Sarawak, and we always look forward to this race, partly because of the rich blend of cultures here such as Chinese, Malay, and Muslim influences all coming together.
The government’s support is also very visible, which sets it apart from other competitions. The presence of coast guards, police, and the military shows a strong collaboration between the government and the organisers, which is essential for us, as safety is our top priority.
At the same time, we’re having fun pursuing our passion, and we definitely look forward to more races here in Sarawak.
MASANAO OKANO, 42,
Lake Biwa Japan
This is my second time here in Sarawak. My first visit was in 2023, and I have really enjoyed the water sports scene here in Kuching.
The energy, the excitement, and the environment around the events are incredible. I am already looking forward to coming back next year to join the competition again.
I’m eager for more paddling, more power, and new challenges, and I promise I’ll be back for next year’s race.
MARCUS WHITE, 49,
Hong Kong VRC Dragon
This is my first time at this International Dragon Boat Regatta, and so far, I’ve had one race today with another coming up shortly.
I was really excited to come to Kuching, the weather is great, the food is fantastic, the coffee is excellent, and the atmosphere here is very welcoming!
The event organisation is impressive, with so many teams competing, making it a fun and challenging competition. Everything is well-organised, and the level of competition is tough. It’s a great event, and I’m definitely enjoying it.
NIGEL BEDFORD, 68,
Thames Dragons, United Kingdom
It’s a chance to escape the cold in England and soak up some warm weather, so I couldn’t resist coming here for some sunshine.
I have to say, the people have made this an amazing experience!
Although I’ve raced before, this is my first time here, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of it.The organisers have done an incredible job, bringing in the police, fire services, volunteers, race officials, and, most importantly, securing government funding to make this event spectacular.
By the way we are not going to win anything, the competition is too great and we are a bit of on the mixed side, but this is just a great experience for all paddlers to see how people in Southeast Asia in particular paddle and learn from it and be part of this wonderful environment in Sarawak.
What could we wish for apart from that? It’s brilliant!
