Dragon-riding Penangites to row it out
Roaring energy: A file photo of rowers taking part in the Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta 2024 at Straits Quay Retail Marina, on Nov 24, 2024. Though the festival is this Saturday, most dragon boat races in other parts of the world tend to be held later in the year.
GEORGE TOWN: Eighty Penangites with highly tuned upper bodies will be churning up the waters on dragon boats this Saturday.
Spectators can watch them power through the waves with unflagging speed during the global Dragon Boat Festival from 3pm to 8pm at the Penang Chinese Swimming Club in Tanjung Tokong.
Although the actual date of the Dragon Boat Festival falls this Saturday, or the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, most dragon boat races in other parts of the world tend to be held later in the year.
This is to take advantage of more favourable weather conditions, said Penang tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, adding that the Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta takes place in November.
In this regard, this Saturday's race is billed as 'one for Penangites'.
'Penang has so much sea and we should encourage water sports including rowing and ones with cultural significance,' he said, adding that races like this can attract young rowers.
The festival will also offer more than just racing.
'The public can enjoy cultural activities such as rice dumpling-making, traditional performances and a variety of food,' he said.
Penang Chinese Swimming Club president and event organising chairman Victor Tan said this was the first time they were organising the festival.
'The competition will feature a 300m sprint and a 3km race around Pulau Tikus island,' he said.
'While we welcome teams from other states, so far only Penang teams are racing this weekend,' he said of the competitive activities done in collaboration with the Penang Dragon Boat Association and Penang Rowing Association.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Dragon Boat Festival celebrated in Greece
ATHENS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of spectators gathered at the Olympic Rowing Center in Schinias, northeast of Athens, on Sunday to witness a vibrant dragon boat race held in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival and the deepening ties between China and Greece. The event, the first of its kind in Greece and titled "Dragon Boat Race - Friendship Cup China-Greece: The Silk Road Meets the Aegean Sea," featured seven competing teams -- five Chinese and two Greek. The race was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Greece and hosted in the historic town of Marathon. "This event is yet another opportunity to deepen cooperation and friendship between the Chinese and Greek peoples," said Chinese Ambassador to Greece Fang Qiu in his opening remarks. Marathon Mayor Stergios Tsirkas echoed the sentiment, expressing pride in hosting the inaugural dragon boat race in Greece. "It is an honor and a great joy for our town," he said. Vasilis Polymeros, president of the Hellenic Rowing Federation and Olympic medalist, highlighted the cultural significance of the event. "I had the privilege of competing in China during the 2008 Olympic Games and experienced firsthand the richness of Chinese civilization. Today is a wonderful occasion that brings us together," he told Xinhua. The Greek team "Dragon of Friendship," which included canoe kayak athlete Alexandros Lymperopoulos, took home the cup. "It's a beautiful experience to see this connection between Greece and China flourish. The energy here at the Olympic Rowing Center is truly uplifting," he said. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Olympic champion Zheng battles into French Open last eight
PARIS: Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen secured a place in the French Open quarter-finals with a hard-fought three-set victory over Russian Liudmila Samsonova on Sunday. The reigning Olympic champion extended her winning streak at Roland Garros to 10 matches, winning 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Zheng said that she does not feel like a defending champion despite winning Olympic gold at the same venue last summer. "It's different because Grand Slam we need to play seven matches, and the Olympic Games is six matches to get a gold medal," she said. "I really don't consider myself as defending champion. Right now even though I'm in (the) quarter-final, I think I'm still a bit far, and I just want to stay calm and fight every single match. "Forget what happened last year, but just fight at this moment in Roland Garros." Zheng will continue her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title against world number one Aryna Sabalenka after she beat Amanda Anisimova. The winner of that clash could face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals. Zheng is the only woman to beat Swiatek at Roland Garros in the last four years after her semi-final win at the Paris Games. "I feel she's doing amazing here, but you know, for me I will just keep going because, like I said before, I want to stay longer here in Roland Garros," she added.
The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Tennis-Zheng subdues Samsonova to reach maiden French Open quarter-final
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng in action during her fourth round match against Russia's Liudmila Samsanova REUTERS/Lisi Niesner PARIS (Reuters) -Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen continued her French Open campaign in battling fashion as the Chinese eighth seed overcame Russia's Liudmila Samsonova 7-6(5) 1-6 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros on Sunday. Zheng swapped a pair of breaks with her 19th-seeded opponent in the opening set and fought back from 4-2 down in the tiebreak to get her nose in front before allowing big-hitting Samsonova to hold in a tense first game of the second set. The Russian broke to love in the next game and struck again later to draw level in the match, leaving Zheng with a big fight on her hands to reach her maiden Roland Garros quarter-final at the site of her Paris Games triumph last year. Zheng showed the mettle of a gold medallist, however, as the 22-year-old broke for a 4-2 lead and shrugged off a poor service game to get ahead 5-3 before securing victory when Samsonova made an unforced error. "Right now I feel incredible because I've been dreaming of reaching this stage, it did not happen in 2023 and 2024. I have no words to describe my emotions right now," said Zheng, who dropped to the ground in celebration. "The crowd helped me a lot, they gave me a lot of energy. I like to play in front of a lot of people. It gives me a lot of motivation. I hope I can stay longer in Roland Garros. "It was an intense match. She put me under a lot of pressure and I ran a lot behind the baseline. But I have a lot of energy. I can play five sets if needed. My body is feeling great and I will push till the end. Zheng takes on either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Amanda Anisimova in the next round. (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; Editing by Ken Ferris)
