Teams training hard in last- minute preparations for race

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STARMETRO had their final training session at the Putrajaya Maritime Centre on Thursday.

There were also other teams, local and international, putting in their last effort at the official training. At 9am, there were already a few teams practising out on the lake.

Clad in pink, one of the breast cancer survivor teams were seen rowing with gusto and in unison.

Pink power: Participants putting in effort during the final training sessions.

Some teams were seen warming up and stretching before their training session.

For us, it was our fourth training session.

By now, we could manage to get the boat out to the lake by ourselves.

However, without a steersman, we had trouble rowing in a straight line.

We realised we had become dependent on our trainer, who also doubled as the steersman, in our previous training sessions.

We became the entertainment of the day when we rowed in circles.

Nevertheless, we had fun during the training while hoping for a good race this weekend at the three-day Dragon Boat Festival at the Putrajaya Sports Comples in Precinct 6.

Over 60 teams comprising 1,500 participants from 14 countries are taking part in the event.

For the first time, the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) is hosting its inaugural Cancer Survivors World Cup 2011 in Malaysia in conjunction with Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival 2011. The festival will be held at the Water Sports Complex for the third year running.

With participants from Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries, the competition will test skills, teamwork and the spirit of unity on water.

The event is organised by Federal Territories Putrajaya Dragon Boat Association (WPPDBA) in collaboration with Putrajaya Corporation (PPJ), Youth and Sports Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry, Malaysia Dragon Boat Association (MDBA) and in affiliation with the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).

The dragon boat race is one of the sports included in the Asian Games.

The race is divided into two main categories — International teams and Malaysian teams.

Each category then has its sub-categories, Open, Mixed, Women and Junior (below 23 years old). Other categories (for Malaysian teams only) include Club, Corporate and Inter-Government Department participation.