DUBAI UAE-based Dubai Diggers put on a great show Down Under to win six medals in the ongoing International Dragon Boat Federation’s (IDBF) Club Crew World Championship held in Adelaide, Australia.
The team secured three gold, two silver and one bronze medals and hope to add more to the list when championship end on Thursday. “The Dubai Diggers’ performance has been phenomenal,” said team coach Nick Hando from Adelaide. “We are looking forward to a few more medals before we come home,” he added.
Intensive training
The team emerged winners in the 200m - Senior A (Mixed), 500m – Senior A (Mixed) and 2,000m – Premier Category (Mixed) while they claimed second spots in 2,000m – Senior A (Mixed) and 500m – Premier Category (Mixed). They won the bronze in the 500m – open race.
“Our wins are a result of months of intensive training with many gym sessions and early mornings on the water at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. We thank the support we received from UAE community, families, friends, employers and our sponsors,” said Hando.
Founded in 2008, the Dubai Diggers are one of the country’s most successful teams having tasted success at local and international events, including the recent victories at 2015 Shangri-La Dragon Boat Festival and the 2015 Dubai Creek Dragon Boat Festival.
“We knew the competition would be tough here but given our training, focus and dedication, we were determined to win. It’s an amazing feeling to represent Dubai and, of course, be named the world’s best,” said co-captain Jill Steinke.
UAE Dragon Boat technical director Jason Mackenzie, said: “The Dubai Diggers have established a benchmark of training, passion and performance throughout the past decade. We are all proud that one of our own has reached the top.”
