Chinese team Dong Guan Laoyu club wins Dragon Boat Festival title in Pokhara

POKHARA, Jan 02:Chinese athletes dominated the second edition of the 'Nepal-China Friendly Dragon Boat Race Festival' held in Pokhara. China's Dong Guan Laoyu club won both the 200 and 500 meter events at Phewa Lake in Pokhara on Monday.

Along with the double title, they got a $10,000 award. The tournament was designed to promote Nepal's tourism by improving cultural and people-to-people ties between Nepal and China. Yunnan Minzu University in China finished second, followed by Liao Cheng University in third. Yunnan Minzu University secured fourth place. Similarly, Liao Cheng University finished second in the scheduled 500-metre event. Wuhan University placed third in the competition.

The winners of the competition's 500 and 200 meter events got a cash reward of $5,000 US dollars, as well as trophies, medals, and certificates; the runner-up received $2,000 US dollars; and the third place received $1,200 US dollars. According to the organizers, each of the teams who participated in the competition received $500. 

Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, and others presented awards to the winning players. The competition, hosted by Gandaki Province, Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board, drew 20 teams.

Eight Chinese teams, one from Singapore, and eleven from Nepal competed in the competition. With the completion of the Nepal-China Friendly Dragon Boat Race-2024, Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Acharya stated that the program has helped build cultural and people-to-people ties between Nepal and neighboring China, as well as promote Nepal tourism.