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Ex-kayaker judge hooked on dragon boats racing
June 15, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
YAN Jinfa has been a judge for the Suzhou Creek dragon boat races since the very first time it was held 12 years ago. For a decade, he has watched one small scale competition turn into an international event combining sport and festival.
Yan, a former professional kayak athlete in Shanghai, retired in the 1970s after the fourth Chinese National Games. He later coached and started to work with dragon boat races.
Q: How many judges are involved?
A: Around 70.
Q: What are the highlights?
A: The standards are higher because now we are an international tournament. This year we host the Chinese Dragon Boat Open Tournament, one of the country's most prestigious competitions. It's very professional.
This year we also have more teams. In addition to the professional racing teams from China and overseas, there are many amateur teams. At the tryouts held in Changfeng Park in May, 68 crews battled for 27 spots this year. We have never had this many and 15 are not from Putuo District. There are teams from companies, schools, towns and various groups. They trained very hard and this is a good example of how dragon boat racing is a good sport for everyone.
Q: What's your impression after 10 years and why did you get involved?
A: I watch the competition grows year after year and I'm very happy it's getting better. The race is now a brand.
I was a professional kayak athletes at first, I wasn't keen on dragon boat racing. But after a while, I was attracted by the boats as cultural heritage from our ancestors. I like it more and more.
Q: Are there special features of the race?
A: For me, the Olympic Game sports were all about fighting to win. Dragon boat races are different. They don't believe in individualism but in the spirit of working together. One single hero cannot be the key to winning.
Q: How do races contribute to cultural exchange?
A: We not only invite international teams, but also take our teams abroad. In 2005 we went to Melbourne, Australia, for the international tournament, and last year we competed in Hamburg, Germany. The sport is not only about racing to the finish line and winning, but also communicating with other countries about our culture and heritage.
Yan, a former professional kayak athlete in Shanghai, retired in the 1970s after the fourth Chinese National Games. He later coached and started to work with dragon boat races.
Q: How many judges are involved?
A: Around 70.
Q: What are the highlights?
A: The standards are higher because now we are an international tournament. This year we host the Chinese Dragon Boat Open Tournament, one of the country's most prestigious competitions. It's very professional.
This year we also have more teams. In addition to the professional racing teams from China and overseas, there are many amateur teams. At the tryouts held in Changfeng Park in May, 68 crews battled for 27 spots this year. We have never had this many and 15 are not from Putuo District. There are teams from companies, schools, towns and various groups. They trained very hard and this is a good example of how dragon boat racing is a good sport for everyone.
Q: What's your impression after 10 years and why did you get involved?
A: I watch the competition grows year after year and I'm very happy it's getting better. The race is now a brand.
I was a professional kayak athletes at first, I wasn't keen on dragon boat racing. But after a while, I was attracted by the boats as cultural heritage from our ancestors. I like it more and more.
Q: Are there special features of the race?
A: For me, the Olympic Game sports were all about fighting to win. Dragon boat races are different. They don't believe in individualism but in the spirit of working together. One single hero cannot be the key to winning.
Q: How do races contribute to cultural exchange?
A: We not only invite international teams, but also take our teams abroad. In 2005 we went to Melbourne, Australia, for the international tournament, and last year we competed in Hamburg, Germany. The sport is not only about racing to the finish line and winning, but also communicating with other countries about our culture and heritage.
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