The 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Competition Wanning Finals kicks off on the first day

China News Service, Wanning, Hainan, October 4 (Reporter Zhang Qianyi) Tides and currents converge, and drums and oars sound in unison. The Wanning Finals of the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Competition ushered in its first competition day at Gangbeigang, Hele Town, Wanning City on the 3rd. Hainan's 20 local teams and 8 specially invited teams competed in multiple rounds of 100-meter, 200-meter, and 500-meter straight courses on the natural lagoon track.

On October 3, the Wanning Finals of the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Competition ushered in its first competition day at Gangbeigang, Hele Town, Wanning City. (Photo courtesy of Hainan Sports Events Center)

The Gangbeigang track is affected by the superimposition of tides and surges, and the currents are complex, which tests each team's sailing, course control, and paddle frequency scheduling throughout the entire process. On that day, after a high-density round, all the teams from each group that advanced to the semi-finals, finals, and small finals the next day were selected.

In the men's category, 10 local teams that broke through from the six sub-stations competed fiercely. Hainan Yongsheng Dragon Boat Team rowed 25 seconds 321 in the 100-meter preliminaries; Hainan Youwei Outdoor Dragon Boat Team, Lingshui Brothers Dragon Boat Team, Lingshui Dadun Dragon Boat Team, and Sanya Gangmen Dragon King Temple Dragon Boat Team all performed at the leading level in the competition. The host Wanning and Lelong Boat Team relied on their familiarity with the local waters to steadily qualify for multiple rounds of promotion.

In the mixed group, 10 teams competed together, with 12 male and female dragon boat paddlers competing side by side. The 100m tests instant explosive power, the 200m focuses on rhythm transition, and the 500m puts strict demands on endurance reserves. The Jiyang District People's Sports Association Dragon Boat Team, October Tian Dragon Boat Team, Butu Dragon Boat Team, and Jinjiangjiang Dragon Boat Team have gone through the test of the rematch and are heading for the semi-finals.

On October 3, the Wanning Finals of the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Competition ushered in its first competition day at Gangbeigang, Hele Town, Wanning City. Dragon boat athletes from different regions use boats as media to carry out sports and cultural exchanges. (Photo courtesy of Hainan Sports Events Center)

The specially invited team became the highlight of the competition. The Malaysian Amateur Dragon Boat Team, the Belarus Happy Dragon Boat Team, the Philippines Manila Dragon Boat Team, the Italian Shanghai Dragon Boat Team, the Indonesian Jakarta Dragon Boat Team, as well as the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Team, the Macau Nanlang Dragon Boat Team, and the 318 Strait Alliance Dragon Boat Team made their appearances in sequence. Dragon boat athletes from different regions gathered in Wanning and Lezhen Gangbeigang to carry out sports and cultural exchanges using boats as media.

Jimmy, the helmsman of the Manila Dragon Boat Team in the Philippines, said in an interview that the current in Gangbei Harbor is strong, which requires the helmsman to control the boat very well and must stay focused at all times.

"Winning or losing is not everything, what is more valuable is accumulating experience in the competition." said Lu Lizhang, a 63-year-old paddler of the Macau Nanlang Dragon Boat Team. With 22 years of experience in dragon boat racing, she enjoys competing on the same stage with experts from all walks of life. She also cherishes the process of making friends with her paddle and rowing side by side with her teammates, from which she feels the charm of the dragon boat sport.

On October 3, the Wanning Finals of the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Competition ushered in its first competition day at Gangbeigang, Hele Town, Wanning City. (Photo courtesy of Hainan Sports Events Center)

In the viewing area on the shore, the cheers and cheers of the audience were intertwined with the sound of waves. After multiple rounds of competition, the men’s group Wanning Hele Dragon Boat Team, Lingshui Dadun Dragon Boat Team, Hainan Yongsheng Dragon Boat Team, Lingshui Brothers Dragon Boat Team, Sanya Gangmen Dragon King Temple Dragon Boat Team, Xinbu Seafood Dragon Boat Team, Wanning Hele Town Lequn Dragon Boat Team The team advanced to the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 500-meter semi-finals; the Hainan Youwei Outdoor Dragon Boat Team qualified for the 100-meter and 500-meter semi-finals; the Chengmai Dongshui Port Dragon Boat Team qualified for the 200-meter and 500-meter semi-finals.

Mixed group Jiyang District People's Sports Association Dragon Boat Team, October Tian Dragon Boat Team, Yuandong Tourism Dragon Boat Team, Wanxiang Beiyi Dragon Boat Team, Ledong Wanglou Port Born Dragon Boat Team, Haikou Xindong Henggou Dragon Boat Team, Butu Dragon Boat Team, Jinjiang River The dragon boat team won the 100-meter semi-finals; Ledong Wanglou Port Born Dragon Boat Team, Yuandong Tourism Dragon Boat Team, Wanxiang Beiyi Dragon Boat Team, and Haikou Xindong Henggou Dragon Boat Team won the 200-meter and 500-meter finals. The specially invited Manila Dragon Boat Team of the Philippines, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Team of China, the 318 Strait Alliance Dragon Boat Team, and the Belarusian Happy Dragon Boat Team advanced to the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 500-meter finals.

"The team members usually train in waters with smooth currents. The Gangbeigang track is a new challenge for us." Wu Lixiu, the leader of the Lingshui Dadun Dragon Boat Team, said that during the competition, the helmsman's judgment and the overall team collaboration are particularly critical. The team members showed their courage to be first in every round and their spirit of refusing to admit defeat. (over)