Sabah Dragon Boat Race offers increased cash prizes

The 8th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2023 will offer a total of RM93,500 in cash prizes with two new categories to encourage women’s participation in the sport.

Tan Sri TC Goh, president of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), announced the news.

The two new categories are the Hua Zong President Trophy, which requires a minimum of eight women in a mixed team, and the Kinabalu Dragon Trophy Women Team Open, which is open to Malaysian women.

Dragon Boat Race as part of the Chinese cultural festival

The dragon boat race is a part of the 38th National Chinese Cultural Festival 2023, which will commence with a welcoming beach party and lighting of the Cultural Torch at Likas Bay on June 16.

The heat races will begin on June 17, followed by the finals and prize presentation ceremony the next day.

The main organizing chairperson, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, stated that the training sites at Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club or Kampung Gayang, Tuaran, will be available for participants to start training from April 29, between 8 am and 6 pm.

According to Susan, FCAS anticipates higher participation in the dragon boat race this year, following the opening of borders, as participants are eager to join the tour activities to Tawau and Semporna, where they can enjoy staying at island resorts after the event.

The Cultural Torch Run will begin in Likas Bay Kota Kinabalu, followed by Tawau and Semporna, and will extend to Papar, Beaufort, Tuaran, Keningau, Tenom, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Kudat at a later date.

The final Torch Run stop will be in Ranau, where the torch will be brought to the summit of Mount Kinabalu.

Eleven categories with varying cash prizes

There are a total of 11 categories under the 8th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2023, with the Sabah Head of State Trophy offering the largest cash prize of RM10,000 to the winner, RM5,000 for the first runner-up, and RM2,500 for the second runner-up.

The Sabah Chief Minister’s Trophy and Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy offer RM8,000 each for the first prize winner, and RM4,000 and RM2,000 for the second and third prize respectively.

Meanwhile, the FCAS Trophy (Local KK FCAS Member Mixed Teams), FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese Mixed Teams), FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese Men’s Teams), Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (Junior Team Between 15-20 Years Old), Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (International and Malaysian Men’s Team), Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (International and Malaysian Mix Team Open), Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (Malaysian Women’s Team Open), and Hua Zong President Trophy (Mix Team) offer RM3,000 cash prize for the top spot, RM2,000 for the second prize, and RM1,000 for the third prize.

The addition of two new women’s categories highlights the importance of women’s participation in sports.

As Tan Sri TC Goh stated, “We want to encourage women to participate in the dragon boat race as it is not only a fun activity, but it also promotes teamwork, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle.”

The two new categories are the Hua Zong President Trophy, which requires a minimum of eight women in a mixed team, and the Kinabalu Dragon Trophy Women Team Open, which is open to Malaysian women.

Source: Borneo Post