KUCHING: Philippines captured two categories of the two-day Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta (SIDBR) 2019.
A team called Polillo Dragon Boat Team rowed its way to the top spot for the gold in two categories, namely, the International Premier (IP) Open 20 Crew and the IP Mixed 20 Crew.
The Filipino team won RM5,000 cash in each category plus trophies and medals.
The team members received their prizes from Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan during the SIDBR 2019 Appreciation Dinner at Pullman Hotel last Sunday night.
Second in the IP Open 20 crew was Juang Brunei Team A from Brunei while Elang Perkasa Pontianak from Indonesia Pasukan Lumba Perahu Mukim Sabah from Sabah came third and fourth respectively.
The IP Open 12 Crew category saw Unimas Kayak Team (Sarawak) snatching the first place while CU Dragon Boat (Thailand) came second, Juang Brunei Team A (Brunei) third and Elang Perkasa Pontianak (Indonesia) fourth.
The Philippines was the champion in the IP Mixed 12 Crew while Juang Brunei Team A (Brunei) came second, Bomba Pilipinas DTB B third (Philippines) and Juang Brunei Team B (Brunei) fourth.
The IP Ladies 12 Crew was won by Team GPS (Singapore) while KL Barbarians A (Kuala Lumpur) came second, Pasukan Lela Cheteria (Brunei) third and Polillo Dragon Boat Team (Philippines) fourth.
In the International Master Open 12 Crew, CU Dragon Boat (Thailand) emerged champion while Dragons of North America (USA) came second, Zhong Tang San Chong Bihai DB Team (Taipei) third and Pasukan Lumba Perahu Mukim Sabah (Sabah) fourth.
The Challenge Trophy for the Fastest Time Clocked was awarded to Elang Perkasa Pontianak (Indonesia) for the time of 1 minute 12.56 seconds.
All champions in each category went home with cash prizes of RM5,000, while the second-place winners received RM4,000, third place winners RM3,000 and fourth place winners RM1,000 plus trophies and medals.
The Singapore and Taipei teams also presented special mementos to the Sarawak government, which was received by Snowdan, for hosting the Dragon Boat Regatta 2019.
Twenty-eight international teams and 14 local teams with 1,400 participants representing 14 countries attended the appreciation dinner last Sunday.
The participating teams were from Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Australia, US, UAE, Taiwan, Myanmar, Philippines and Hong Kong.
Snowdan, in his speech, explained that the race which took place at the Kuching Waterfront from Oct 26 to 27, was conducted under International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Competition Regulations and Rules of Racing.
“This is to meet the safety requirements and comply with the racing rules and regulations set by world body.
“This is the seventh year that the Dragon Boat Regatta is held in Kuching and it is part of the Kuching Waterfront Festival 2019 from Oct 25 to Nov 3. The ten-day event will feature watersport activities from Friday to Sunday over the two weekends.
“Other activities on land which include exhibitions and sales of handicrafts, local food and delicacies, nightly cultural performances and singing competitions will be carried out daily,” he said.
Snowdan pointed out that these exciting activities would certainly assist in promoting the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta as one of the iconic events in Sarawak and help bring it to greater heights.
The assistant minister addressed the participants as Sarawak ambassadors. He said when they returned to their countries, they would be able to promote Kuching and Sarawak to their friends and families.
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture ministry director Suriya Charles Buas and race director Girlie Tan.
