Hong Kong claim second medal in dramatic dragon boat race at Asian Beach Games
The city’s 12-strong crew secured bronze, finishing behind gold medal winners China and silver medallists Thailand on the Sanya River
Hong Kong secured their second medal at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya on Sunday, after the men’s 12‑strong 400m dragon boat team claimed bronze following a dramatic race for the line.
On the sixth day of competition in Hainan Island, the city crew clocked 1 minute and 40.188 seconds in the grand final on the Sanya River, coming home just 0.022 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Chinese Taipei, who clocked 1:40.210.
China took gold in 1:34.990, with silver going to Thailand, who managed 1:35.614.
Hong Kong’s path to the podium was hard fought. Placing second in their heat, they missed automatic qualification for the final before capitalising on their second chance to progress with a powerful semi-final showing.
They finished second behind the Chinese Taipei boat but a time of 1:37.415, their fastest of the day, was sufficient to beat the Philippines and Macau and secure a spot in the medal race.
Their eventual bronze added to the silver that the city’s aquathlon mixed-relay quartet claimed on Saturday.
