Chinese teams dominate dragon boat race

POKHARA: Chinese teams made a clean sweep of titles at the Pokhara International Friendly Dragon Boat Race.

Chinese teams won first, second and third positions in both 500-meter and 200-meter events organized on Fewa Lake, Pokhara, Sunday and Monday. Dongguan Laoyou Club clinched first position in both 500-meter and 200-meter categories with timings of 2 mins 4.34 seconds and 47.72 seconds, respectively.

In the 200-meter category, Yunnan Minzu University and Liaocheng University secured second and third place respectively with timings of 48.22 seconds and 50.83 seconds.

Similarly, Liaocheng University and Yuhan Sports Univerity secured second and third positions in the 500-meter race with a timing of 2 min 7.340 seconds, and Liaocheng University’s team finished second with a time of 2 min 8.44 seconds.

The winning teams of both categories received a cash prize of $5,000, while the first and second runners-up took home $2,000 and $1,200, respectively. Likewise, all participating teams were awarded $500 each.

Nepali teams like Nepal rafting and Canoeing Association, Himalayan River Guide Association, DBA Bagmati Province, Tribhuvan Army Club, Fewa Team, DBA Gandaki Province, Rupa Team, Begnas Team, DBA Karnali Province Team also participated in the boat race.

The second edition of the festival was organized jointly by the Gandaki Province Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Embassy of China and Nepal Tourism Board, in collaboration with the Nepal Dragon Boat Association, Pokhara Tourism Council and Pokhara Overseas Chinese Association.