Thailand strikes gold at world longboat championships

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Teams compete in the 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Race Championships at Mabprachan Reservoir in Pattaya.
Teams compete in the 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Race Championships at Mabprachan Reservoir in Pattaya.

Thailand’s rowers put in a dominant display to put the nation at the top of the medals table in the recently completed 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Race Championships.

The colorful 5-day event took place at Mabprachan Reservoir in Pattaya from August 21-25 and featured over 3,500 male and female athletes from 30 countries, making it the largest dragon boat contest in the world.

Race categories included Standard and Small Boat, Open, Mixed, Senior and Junior levels, and all distances from 500 meters up to 2,000 meters.

The host nation won a grand total of 95 medals over the course of the 5 days, including 59 gold, 26 silver, and 10 bronze, enabling Thailand to claim the overall top honors for the first time in the history of the event. Local organizers hope the successful showing of the home rowers will help lift the profile of longboat racing in the kingdom and beyond.

A Thai rower is congratulated by his American counterpart at the conclusion of a race.
A Thai rower is congratulated by his American counterpart at the conclusion of a race.
The Thai team stands atop the podium after winning another gold medal.
The Thai team stands atop the podium after winning another gold medal.