Kota Kinabalu: The 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2025 will be held at Likas from May 16-18.
Organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), the race will feature 11 categories with a total cash prize of RM94,000 up for grabs.
FCAS Deputy President cum Organising Chairlady Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen said the dragon boat race had been moved forward from June previously to May this year to avoid the wet weather and to enable more foreign teams to participate.
“Furthermore, many foreign teams were unable to take part in our dragon boat race previously because our schedule clashed with other races.
“By moving the race to May, we expect to see more international teams this year,” she said after chairing the first technical meeting of the race here on Thursday.
She added that 144 teams took part in the dragon boat race last year.
Of the 11 categories, seven are 800-metre and four 200-metre races.
The 800m races are Sabah Head of State Trophy (international and top Malaysian men teams), Sabah Chief Minister Trophy (Malaysian men’s teams), Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy (international and Malaysian mix teams), FCAS Member Trophy (Huazong) and FCAS member mix teams), FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese mix team), FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese men’s teams), Kinabalu Youth Trophy (local junior team between 15 and 20 years old).
The 200m races are Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (international and Malaysian men’s teams), Kinabalu Mix Trophy (international and Malaysian mix teams), Kinabalu Phoenix Trophy (Malaysian women’s teams) and Kinabalu Master Trophy (international and Malaysian men’s teams aged 45 years old and above).
The Sabah Head of State Trophy comes with a cash prize of RM10,000 for first place, followed by RM5,000 and RM3,000 for the second and third places respectively.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Chief Minister’s Trophy and Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy come with RM8,000 for the first prize, RM4,000 for second and RM2,000 for third.
First place winners of the remaining categories will receive RM3,000 cash prize, RM2,000 for the first runner-up and RM1,000 for the second runner-up.
Susan said on Day One (May 16) of the event entails a briefing and draw of lanes for the participating teams. A sunset beach party will be held later in the evening to welcome the participants.
On Day Two (May 17), the sportsmen oath taking ceremony will be held followed by heats till noon and a 7-km Dragon Run at 3pm.
Susan said the Head of State Tun Musa Aman is expected to grace the final race day on May 18 to officiate at the event with drum beating and Chinese dumpling (zong zi) offering ceremony and present prizes to the winning teams.
There will also be a Chinese dumpling (zong zi) exhibition as part of the Dragon Boat Festival as well.
She said registration is open from March 15 to April 30, and the registration fee is RM300. Training sessions are available at Kinabalu Yacht Club.
For further information, please contact the organizing secretariat at 088-253433 or 011-55559428 (Ms Glorina).
Also present at the technical meeting were deputy organizing chairman Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt, Race Director Datuk Balwant Singh Kler, assistant race director Zachary Mobijohn, assistant race director Winceslaus Gerald Autine, boat keeper Godfrey Yin, person-in-charge of boat towing, Omar Baki Aliakbar, person-in-charge of sea race lane set up, Eric, time keeper Yee Kwok Wai, person-in-charge of radio communications Albart Gurud, Treasurer Chen Ee Sheng, as well as Madeline, Glorina, Regina, Daniel and Winnie.
