"One Stands Out" to "A Hundred Flowers Bloom" – Dragon Boat Makes Historic Debut at World Games with Global Flair

The dragon boat event at the 2025 Chengdu World Games concluded successfully on August 10 at the Xinglong Lake waterfront venue. Making its debut as an official World Games sport, dragon boat racing attracted 12 teams with a total of 144 athletes.

Contrary to expectations of us, this quintessentially Chinese sport showcased a fiercely competitive field-seven teams made it to the podium. Indonesia emerged as the biggest winner with 3 gold and 2 silver medals, followed closely by Ukraine with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, while China secured 2 silver medals.

On the morning of August 10, a sudden downpour at Xinglong Lake did little to dampen the competition. Indonesia, riding high from winning the first gold the previous day, added two more golds to their tally. Like Coach Mohammad shared, "After qualifying at last October’s Dragon Boat World Cup, we recruited athletes from various backgrounds—soldiers, police officers, students—and formed a dedicated training team in January. Competing in six races over two days was intense, but we adapted quickly and are proud of our performance." He added, "We buy Chinese-made dragon boats and learn from China’s techniques. Dragon boating is a treasure of Chinese sports, and its inclusion in the World Games is significant. We hope to see it in the Olympics next!"

Of course, Ukraine also delivered standout performances. Eighteen-year-old Danylo Kukharuk, the team’s youngest member, recounted their journey: "We trained relentlessly for six months—living, eating, and sleeping together. Rain or shine, we knew we could win." Their resilience earned them 2 golds, 1 silver, and 1 bronze.

Other teams, like Thailand, showcased meticulous preparation. Their squad—comprising civil servants, students, and farmers—perfected every detail, from tight turns to synchronized strokes, pausing daily lives for training.

Yang emphasized the global passion for dragon boating: "Our student-athletes love this sport. Competing internationally broadens their horizons and fuels national pride." With 50 million enthusiasts and nearly 100 countries embracing the sport, dragon boating’s cultural reach is undeniable.

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