By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 14: A month of intensive training paid off for Sarawak’s Kuching Dragon Boat Club (KDB) after the team captured the International Friends Division title at the Nanchang International Dragon Boat Race 2026, overcoming competitors from China and several other countries.
According to a recent statement, the two-day competition held at Jiulong Lake from June 13 to 14 attracted dragon boat teams from across China as well as international participants from the United States, Russia, Belarus, Italy, Kazakhstan, Germany, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Competing in the 12-person Small Dragon Boat category under the International Friends Division, KDB delivered a series of consistent performances throughout the tournament to secure the overall championship.
The victory earned the team gold medals, the championship trophy and RMB10,000 in prize money along with other prizes presented by the organisers during the closing ceremony.
In preparation for the race, team members underwent a month of intensive training while balancing work commitments, family responsibilities and other obligations before travelling thousands of kilometres to compete in China.
The championship marks another milestone for the Sarawak club, which has regularly represented Malaysia in regional and international dragon boat competitions over the years.
Alongside the competition, KDB participated in cultural exchange activities and presented a traditional Sarawakian Sape to the organisers as a gesture of appreciation and goodwill.
The annual Nanchang International Dragon Boat Race is among the major dragon boat events held in China and draws participation from both domestic and international teams, reflecting the sport’s growing global appeal. — DayakDaily
