24 HP paddlers to participate in dragon boat championship

As many as 24 players, including 12 women, from across the state left for Kerala today to take part in the National Dragon Boat and Traditional Sports Championship, which is being held at Alleppey from January 16 to 19.

The players, who completed a two-week special training in the cold waters of Pong Wetland, have been selected by the Himachal Pradesh Dragon Boat and Traditional Sports Association. Shyam Lal, the association’s trainer, conducted the final training session at the wetland, also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar.

He said dragon boating is a paddle-driven water sport that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. “The Dragon Boat teams can consist of up to 20 paddlers (10 for smaller boats), along with a sweep and a drummer, and they train and race in fiberglass boats decorated with dragon heads and tails,” he said.

Dr Rajiv Kumar, the association’s president, expressed the need for the state government to promote water sports activities at Maharana Pratap Sagar in Kangra district.

He lamented that successive governments have yet to recognise any water sports teams within government departments.

He added that players performing well in the National Dragon Boat and Traditional Sports Championship could earn a spot in the 17th World Dragon Boat Race Championship in Germany next month.