Pokhara, December 29
The second edition of the Nepal-China Friendly Dragon Boat Race Festival has commenced at Fewa Lake, Pokhara. The event aims to strengthen cultural and grassroots ties between Nepal and neighboring China while promoting Nepal’s tourism.
The festival features participants from Nepal, China, and Singapore and will run until Monday. A collaborative effort of the Gandaki Provincial Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board, the competition has attracted 20 teams.
To facilitate participation, 129 players from Chengdu, China, arrived in Pokhara on December 26 via a chartered flight.
The event includes eight teams from China, one from Singapore, and 11 teams from Nepal, representing various regions and organisations. Among the Nepali teams are Gandaki, Bagmati, Karnali, Tribhuvan Army Club, Dragon Boat Gandaki, Begnas Team, Rupa Lake Team, and the Nepal Rafting Agencies Association (NARA).
The competition comprises 500-meter and 200-meter races. The winning team in each category will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000, while the runners-up and third-place finishers will be awarded USD 2,000 and USD 1,200, respectively.
