Hangzhou 2022: Team spirit powering dragon boat crews at Asiad

By Patrick Johnston

Singapore’s dragon boat racers signed off their Asian Games campaign in style by driving to victory in the women’s 500 metre minor final on Thursday (Oct 5).

The victory over the crews from Hong Kong and Macao meant the women’s 12-team squad signed off the nine-team competition in seventh place overall.

For the 14 crew members, made up of 12 paddlers, a drummer and steerer, the experience of competing in the biggest and most prestigious dragon boat race in the world was invaluable.

“I think it was the best we could do. We gave it our all,” said steerer Ashleigh Ng.

“For most of the crew here, it's the second time racing together at the Asian Games and for most of us, this is the last time we will race together. We really wanted this to be our best effort and we did give it our all."

Singapore’s women’s dragonboat team race in the Asian Games 200 metre grand final at the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Centre. (Photo: SNOC/Kelly Wong)

The same crew also represented Singapore in the women’s 200 metre race on Wednesday. They finished their opening heat fourth and then came second in the semi-final to qualify for the grand final. There they managed a fifth place finish, just over one second behind Thailand who claimed bronze.

The men also took part in the 200m and 500m races in Hangzhou this week. The crew finished in 12th place overall in the longer format.

In the shorter, 200m sprint, the team finished 11th out of 12 teams after their heat, semi-final and minor final races.

“The atmosphere was truly a great experience. It was so real, I'm so happy to have been a part of it,” said paddler Ch’ng Khai Hung. 

Singapore’s men’s dragonboat team raise their oars before the start of the 200 metre semi-final at the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Centre. (Photo: SNOC/Kelly Wong)

For paddler Elfyan Haqiem, the Hangzhou experience provided him with all the drive and motivation to improve ahead of the next Games in three years' time. 

“Just the level of difference between us, and me, as an athlete and the other athletes from other nations such as Thailand, Indonesia and China,” he said of the lessons he took from Hangzhou. 

“We have a lot to learn and a lot to train for for the next Games and the next competitions if I want to stand with them on the podium.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams had been staying together in a capsule hotel to bond as a team prior to the Games, which also helped them make the early morning and late night training sessions around work commitments. 

Singapore men’s dragon boat team drummer Lim Pin Heng looks up after completing the 200 metre heats at the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Centre. (Photo: SNOC/Kelly Wong)

The experience was something that paddler Teo Jia Wei cherished.

“For the entire journey I got to train with my teammates who are really great,” he said. “We had to train day in and day out. This was a really memorable experience as we are not going to race with the same crew again.”

“Being able to row with the best in the entire world, such as China, Indonesia, Thailand, they are really, really strong and it's a privilege to be able to be on the same starting line as them and hopefully we can improve ourselves from the experience.”

The 19th Asian Games are held in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October 2023. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.