The first HQU Dragon Boat Challenge was held at the Egret Lake in Xiamen Campus on June 19, 2021. Wu Jianping, HQU President and Liu Bin, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of HQU attended the opening ceremony. Wang Lixia, HQU Vice President, delivered the opening remarks.
More than 1,500 teachers and students signed up for the race. After preliminary practice, skills training and open call, more than 300 teachers and students from 12 colleges were qualified for the formal competition. The number of overseas students and domestic students were roughly the same on each boat. Four racecourses were set in each round and were determined by drawing of lots in the preliminary, playoff, qualifying, semi-final and final.
As an ancient Chinese tradition that involves dotting the protruding eyes of the dragon head carved on the boats to awaken the dragon from its sleep, the Eye-Dotting ceremony kicked off the First HQU Dragon Boat Challenge. When the whistle blew, the dragon boats glided quickly over the water like a bullet. Students cheered for their favorite teams on shore screaming and running alongside the racecourse. Heading for the finishing line, the rowers holding paddles tried hard to move their boats as fast as they could. Keeping to the right direction, they pooled their efforts to perfect their stroke and timing. The game highlighted the “Dragon Boat Spirit”: working together to maximize the teamwork for the common goal.
After fierce competition, the team from the College of Civil Engineering came first, followed by the College of Physical Education and College of Mechanical and Engineering Automation.
The first dragon boat race of HQU requires teams from each college to include both international students and domestic students, seeking to promote exchanges and communications between them, to promote Chinese Dragon Boat Festival culture and traditional Chinese culture among the young generations as well as to provide students with the opportunity to celebrate Chinese rich cultural diversity.
President Wu Dotting Eyes of “Dragon”
Warming-up
Cheering for the Rowers
Fierce Competition
Celebrating Moment
Awarding Ceremony