SATV Pokhara, December 29:The second Dragon Boat Race Festival, aimed at promoting Nepal's tourism and strengthening Nepal-China relations, commenced in Pokhara today. The opening day featured competitive dragon boat races over 200 meters and 500 meters, with teams from Nepal, China, and Singapore participating.
The festival was inaugurated in a vibrant ceremony that included lighting traditional lamps and drawing symbolic features of the dragon, such as eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. The event was graced by dignitaries including Nepal's Minister of Youth and Sports Tejulal Chaudhary, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Gandaki Province ministers, Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, and secretaries from both Nepal and China’s Dragon Boat Associations.
In his welcome speech, Mayor Acharya expressed pride in hosting such a grand event in Pokhara and thanked the Chinese counterparts for their collaboration. He expressed hope that the festival would continue to grow and emphasized Pokhara's commitment to hosting similar tourism-centric activities in the future. He also called on the federal government to prioritize the development of sports and sports tourism across the nation.
Minister Chaudhary highlighted Pokhara's emerging status as not only a tourism hub but also a sporting capital. He noted the city’s selection as a venue for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup and underscored the importance of cultural exchanges like the Dragon Boat Race in fostering stronger ties between nations.
Ambassador Chen Song shared his optimism about the festival's growth, noting the increased participation compared to the previous year. He expressed hope that Nepali teams would also compete internationally, enhancing their reputation. The ambassador linked the festival to the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2025 and the Visit Pokhara campaign, projecting its significant contribution to boosting tourism.
The opening day saw 20 teams split into five groups, competing in both 200-meter and 500-meter categories. The group winners and three best-performing runner-up teams advanced to tomorrow's finals.
Finalists for the 200-meter race include:Wuhan University Sports Team,Hubei University of Economics Team,Liaocheng University Team,Nara Team,Yunnan Minzu University Team,Dongguan Laoyu Club Team,Sichuan Luzhou Dragon Boat Team and Yunnan Normal University Team.
For the 500-meter race, finalists are:China Sichang Linchi Dragon Boat Team,Liaocheng University,Sichuan Luzhou Dragon Boat Team,PMC Team,Yunnan Normal University,Dongguan Laoyu Club Team,Wuhan University Sports Team and Yunnan Minzu University Team.The finals will commence at 9:30 AM tomorrow.
Over 100 athletes and officials arrived in Pokhara via Sichuan Airlines last Thursday for the event. The winners will receive cash prizes, with $5,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, $1,200 for third, and consolation prizes of $500 each for the other 17 teams.
The festival not only showcases athletic prowess but also underscores the cultural and diplomatic ties between Nepal and its international
