Karim (centre) hands over the state flag to Chew (seventh left) while assistant secretary to the ministry Jee Chin Fu (sixth right) and team members look on.
KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is hoping that the
Kuching Dragon Boat Team will do well at the 1st Langkawi International Dragon Boat Regatta at D’Coconut Villa Langkawi, Kedah from July 28-29.
He said the Sarawak government through the ministry is giving good support to the team and he hoped that they can put up a good challenge against other teams from Malaysia and foreign countries.
The participating teams are from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Philippines, Canada, Taiwan, Macau and Japan.
“This is the first time that they are taking part in the international event outside Kuching and I am happy to see that a team from Kuching will be competing against teams from all over the world.
“I understand that they have been training very hard for this event and besides competing, they can also be the ambassadors for Sarawak and bring up the good name of the state,” Karim said before presenting the state colours to the team manager Chew Kim Soon at his office at Bangunan Baitul Makmur in Petra Jaya yesterday.
According to the minister, 12 countries will be sending 50 teams to the competition and the Kuching team, comprising 33 rowers including eight women and a coach, will be taking part in three categories – International Premier Open 22 Crew, International Premier Mixed 12 Crew and International Premier Open 12 Crew.
“Dragon boat racing is well known and held in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Penang and has come to Sarawak in previous years,” Karim noted.