India to take part in World Dragon Boat Racing Championship
Kolkata, Aug 10 (IBNS): India will take part in the 14th World Dragon Boat Racing Championship to be held at Pattaya- Rayomg in Thaliand during Aug 20-25 next.
Twenty five countries from different parts of the world including China, Hong Kong, Czech Republic, USA, Great Britain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Hungary, Iran, Italy , Malayasia, Singapore,Thailand, France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and India will take part in this six-day competition.
Assistant Coach and a participant at the forthcoming world meet Shakil Ahmed informed that Dragon Boat Federation of India have selected a 44-member Indian team which is now undergoing a special training under his tutelage on the huge waterbody inside Eco Park at Rajarhat in eastern suburb of Kolkata. The camp which began on Aug 1 would continue till Aug 16 next.
The coaching camp is being organised by city based Bengal Water Sports under the aigies of West Bengal Dragon Boat & Traditional Sports Association and Dragon Boat Federation of India.
Shakil , who is also a veteran oarsman , intimated that the Indian team include Abhay Agarwal, Rejayan Karim,Afridi Ali, Aditya Sil, Ms. Khusi Agarwal, Ms. Vanashka Sharma, Yahvi Agarwal, Shakil Ahmed , Ms. Neha Agarwal( West Bengal), T Joseph, D Binay, Asyamala (Kerala) , P P Suresh ( Maharashtra), Rakesh Kumar , M K Yadav, Manoj Kumar, M Jakhwal, Dipak Singh, P Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Rupin Rava, M Ahmed, Ms. D Kalita, Ms.A Kalita, Ms.Beatee Kalita, Ms. Bijulee Kalita, Ms. Hiramoni Kalita ( Assam), Ms. M Y Ramchandra, Ms. S P Snehal, Ms.V Hiral ( Gujarat), Jainuddin Ahmed, Inayat Bashri, S A Bhatt ( Jammu & Kashmir), M R Abhimanyu, Ms.Khusbu Kumari, G P Sigh,Ms. Vandana Kumari, Ms. Smriti Rani (Bihar) and Vivek Sangwan ( Chandigarh ). The team would be accompanied by Chief Coach K Sudhakaran ( Kerala) Manager Taher Ahmed and assistant Manager Anup Chowdhury (Both Assam).
Though Dragon boat race is popular in many countries for a long time as a traditional sport, it has appeared as an event in international competitions comparatively recently. It was included as an event in 2010 Asian Games at Guangjhow and last Asian Games in Indonesia. It has also been included in the next Asian Games to be held in Guangjhow, China in 2022. Dragon boat race has also been included as a demonstration event in 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Unlike rowing, canoeing or kayaking, in Dragon boat race, the crews sit side by side in two rows and consist of ten paddlers, a man at the helm and a drummer to set the pace of the race. The crews paddle in one side of the boat only.
Treasurer of Dragon Boat Federation of India (DBFI ) Anup Kumar Chowdhury after visiting the training camp expressed full satisfaction.
Commenting on the ongoing camp Chowdhury said: “Bengal Water Sports have made fine arrangements and Assistant Coach of the team Shakil Ahmed is also conducting the training camp ably.”
Chowdhury also thanked HIDCO and its Chairman Debashish Sen for making the Eco Park and its infrastructure available for holding this training camp.
The Indian contingent will leave for Thailand from Kolkata on August 17 evening.
(Reporting by Manik Banerjee)
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