Tanjung Papat A retain trophy
Kota Kinabalu: Tanjung Papat A retained their Head of State Trophy, Sunday, despite facing stiff competition from the Brunei police rowing team in the 28th Dragon Boat Race in Tanjung Lipat, Likas on Sunday.
They beat seven other teams in the 800m International and Top Malaysia Teams in 3 minutes and 43 seconds, just one second faster than the Royal Brunei Police Sports Council team.
Team manager Shaiful Bahari Muin said his team was confident of retaining the title as they had worked for two months to get ready for the race.
“We wanted to move away from the Chief Minister Trophy this year so that other teams can cart away the title, but we did not want the head of state’s title to fall from the hands of visitors,” he said after receiving their prizes.
The team, which also received their sponsors from the Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, had in all five teams.
But only two teams – Tanjung Papat A and B – entered the annual race held in conjunction with the Dragon Boat Festival, Shaiful explained.
They took home the grand prizes including airfare trip to Balik Papan Indonesia, in the midst of preparing for their next race in Sarawak next year.
This year’s Dragon Boat race saw fifty-seven teams slide into the final races, which also saw visiting teams from Australia, Singapore and Brunei.
The event kicked off with a lion dance with 24 Chinese Drums performances and thereafter, a symbolic offering ceremony of throwing the glutinous rice cakes into the sea by head of Chinese Associations and Ministers.
The event was attended by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Norlida Jasni, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, Assistant Chief Minister in the Chief Minister Department Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Pang Yuk Ming, Sabah Chinese Cultural Association President Datuk Chau Tet On and Federation of Chinese Associations President Datuk TC Goh.
Source: Daily Express
