Recently, two local dragon boat teams from Hongmei Town and Zhongtang Town in Dongguan have completed their member selection and team formation processes. These two teams will represent Dongguan in dragon boat races held in Switzerland and Denmark respectively.
On April 20, the dragon boat trial took place in Hongmei Town, attracting over 50 dragon boat athletes from 10 villages and communities. The competition featured a 200-meter straight sprint race for individual paddlers. The top 24 athletes with the best overall scores were chosen to form the Hongmei Town dragon boat team for the international competition.
The head referee and chief coach for the Hongmei Town dragon boat team selection competition is Wu Xincheng, hailing from Shunde, Guangdong. With nearly 20 years of experience in coaching dragon boat sports, Wu has led the national team in multiple races, achieving remarkable results. His teams have won numerous championship titles, and he has earned the nickname "the Mourinho of the dragon boat world."
The Hongmei Town dragon boat team will travel to Switzerland to participate in the 2024 Aegleisa Dragon Boat Invitational, scheduled from June 28 to 30.
On April 13, Zhongtang Town held its own dragon boat trial, attracting over 50 young participants. Under the supervision of professional coaches, a group of 20 athletes was selected to form the dragon boat team through a 200-meter individual rowing competition. They will represent Dongguan in the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Cultural Festival Professional Group Competition, held from June 22 to 23 in Denmark.
The Copenhagen Dragon Boat Cultural Festival Professional Group Competition, held for the seventh time, is a prestigious international event of professional nature. In 2023, the festival attracted over 10,000 participants, signifying its role as an international stage for showcasing the city's image, economic level, and cultural charm.
According to Li Zhenbiao, the coach of the Zhongtang dragon boat team, the trial employed a comprehensive assessment based on performance and weight. The selection criteria set the target weight at 75 kilograms, with each additional 2.5 kilograms resulting in a one-second time penalty, while every 2.5 kilograms reduction corresponded to a one-second time deduction.
This selection process aimed to identify outstanding athletes and strive for the best performance during the competition, thereby enhancing the international brand influence of Dongguan's dragon boat sport.
The Zhongtang dragon boat team has represented Dongguan on multiple occasions in domestic and international events, achieving excellent results. The team won the champion at the 2023 Dongguan Dragon Boat Championship, earning the title of "Dragon King of the Dongjiang River."
The dragon boat sport in Dongguan, represented by teams from Hongmei and Zhongtang, possesses a profound cultural history and substantial strength. It has made significant contributions to promoting cultural, economic, and trade exchanges and cooperation between Dongguan and the outside world.
Reporter: Xie Maishi
Producer: Li Jiawei
Photo: Nanfang Plus
