As dragon boating grows around the world, friendship is driving sport’s boom
Nearly 5,000 athletes from around the world descend on Hong Kong for international races in Victoria Harbour
Countries across the world are building competitive dragon boat teams capable of challenging those from China, but the biggest win comes from the friends and communities built along the way, international athletes and officials in Hong Kong said on Saturday.
The Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races take place in the city this weekend, and more than 4,500 athletes from 190 teams across Hong Kong, mainland China, Europe, Asia and America will compete in a total of 80 races over two days.
The international championships started on Saturday, with the action taking place in Victoria Harbour, next to Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade.
“I want to make everybody [race dragon boats] too, it’s becoming more popular, more popular in Asia and in Africa bigger and bigger,” Ehab Gouda, team manager of the Dragon Boat African Alliance, said.
The 51-year-old Egyptian, who works in import and export, started dragon boat racing in 2014 in Guangzhou and Hong Kong. He established a team in Egypt two years later, before joining the International Dragon Boat Federation.
On Saturday, his crew competed in the international open, mixed and women’s championships.