The "Exciting Hangzhou" dragon boat national team selection tournament. [Photo/66wz.com]
Three young female athletes from Wenzhou earned their spots on the Zhejiang Team, which will represent China in the dragon boat competition at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.
The three girls are Li Shuqi from Pingyang county, Xue Lina from Longgang, a county-level city, and Zhu Xiaoli from Cangnan county, all born in the 2000s.
The Fujian men's team and Zhejiang women's team emerged as the overall winners at the "Exciting Hangzhou" dragon boat national team selection tournament on May 30.
The dragon boat event at this year's Asian Games will feature 12-member teams, with six events including 200-meter, 500-m, and 1,000-m races for both men and women. Through qualification matches, selection tournaments, and an overall ranking based on three races, the team with the highest total points will represent China at the Asian Games.
The coaches of the teams with the highest total points will serve as national team coaches. It is worth noting that the coach of the Zhejiang women's team, Xu Jianli, also hails from Wenzhou. He will soon be promoted to coach for the Chinese national women's dragon boat team.
The selection and inclusion of the three Wenzhou athletes in the national training team not only showcases their exceptional talent and hard work but also highlights the city's contribution to the development of dragon boat sports in China.
As they prepare to represent their country at the prestigious Asian Games, all eyes will be on the young athletes. Here's hoping for their success and the continued growth of dragon boat racing in Wenzhou and beyond.
