Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race: 141 teams to battle for honours

Daily Express

12-05-2025

Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025 Text Size: WSG Banana team members are training hard for the dragon boat race. Kota Kinabalu: Registration for the 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2025 has officially closed, with a total of 141 teams from Sabah, Brunei, Hong Kong and Singapore competing across 11 categories. The participating teams, including WSG Banana under WSG Group, have begun intensive training in preparation for the race. Organising chairlady cum The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) deputy president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen recently visited the teams' training site at Kinabalu Yacht Club in Tanjung Aru. She was accompanied by the club's commodore Albert Shim and bosun Omar to inspect the venue in preparation for the team managers' briefing and draw of lanes, scheduled for Friday (May 16) at 9am at Kinabalu Yacht Club. Susan expressed her gratitude to Albert and the Kinabalu Yacht Club for once again allowing the use of their venue as the training ground for the dragon boat race, and for providing facilities and services to ensure athletes can train in a safe and pleasant environment. 'Last year was our first time receiving permission from the Kinabalu Yacht Club to train here. 'This year, we decided to hold the draw of lanes and team briefing at the club for the first time. 'That's why I came today to inspect the location and ensure preparations are in place for the May 16 events,' Susan said. Albert personally welcomed and accompanied Susan during her inspection and expressed his appreciation for the federation in choosing the yacht club as one of the event's venues. 'It is our honour to contribute to Chinese cultural activities and the dragon boat race, and to allow more people, especially the athletes, to experience and learn about the Kinabalu Yacht Club,' he said. WSG Bananas led by WSG Group director Vanessa Wong was coincidentally undergoing their training at the club. Susan, along with Albert and Omar, offered Vanessa, Melissa Wong and their team words of encouragement and support. 'This year, a total of 141 teams will compete in 11 categories. The response remains very enthusiastic. Thank you to everyone for your support for the dragon boat race and Chinese culture,' Susan said. She urged the public to participate in the series of dragon boat race activities to be held from Friday (May 16) to Sunday (May 18), and to experience this exciting cultural and sporting festival unique to Sabah. The 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2025 will be held from May 16 to 18 at Likas Bay this year, with a total cash prize of RM94,000 to be won. Day one (May 16) of the event entails a briefing and draw of lanes for the participating teams at Kinabalu Yacht Club. A sunset beach party will be held at 5pm in the evening at Likas Bay to welcome the participants. Day two (May 17) kicks off with the sportsmen oath taking ceremony at 6.30am and heat races for 11 categories till noon, followed by a seven-kilometre Dragon Run at 3.30pm. The Head of State Tun Musa Aman has agreed to grace the final race day on May 18 and officiate the event with drum beating and Chinese dumpling (zong zi) offering ceremony and thereafter present prizes to the winning teams. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is also expected to grace the event as a special guest, along with state cabinet ministers, members of parliaments, assemblymen and other dignitaries. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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