Dubai: Dragon boats from Dubai were on winning form at the eighth International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships, a dragon boat Olympic class event held in Hong Kong.
Dubai Diggers’ boat won the gold medal in the 200 and 500-metre premier mixed races.
They are the first crew from the UAE to have won a gold medal at a Club Crew World Championship.
Participants from Dubai had further success when a total of three of the four crews finished in the top ten in the 500m premier mixed races category.
The UAE contingent faced stiff competition from around 180 dragon boat club crews and over 4,700 racers from countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, France and China.
Jason Mackenzie, of the UAE Dragon Boat Association, said: “To have achieved this fantastic result against such formidable competition is a real tribute to the training and dedication of all the crew members. It was also a real highlight for the team to compete in Hong Kong; the city’s reputation for holding world-class, international sports events is well deserved.”
The UAE’s achievement coincided with the hosting of the championships in Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour for the first time.
