LUCRATIVE PRIZES: File photo on one of last year’s race highlights during Sarawak Regatta which is now offering RM10,000 to the winner of the ‘King of the River’ title. — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: This year’s Sarawak Regatta is offering a total prize money of RM95,000 with the winner of the “King of the River” title bringing home RM10,000.
According to Kuching Resident, Abang Seruji Abang Shamsuddin a record 400 teams with 7,000 paddlers are competing in the event to be held on Sept 6-8 at Kuching Waterfront as compared to 315 teams which took part last year.
He said this year’s prize money is 30 per cent more than before and the list of sponsors are JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Miri, Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS) Kuching Hornbill Skyways Kuching, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), Telekom Malaysia Berhad and Samling Strategic Corporation.
The organisers had received entries from Brunei, Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Singapore which were invited to the race including those from Sandakan, Putrajaya and Penang.
Aptly themed “Race To Harmony”, the regatta is being held in conjunction with the state’s 50th anniversary celebration and the International Dragon Boat Race is the latest category to be competed.