2 July 2007

Dragon Boaters did NUS proud with coveted double

JOYOUS MOMENT: Team NUS celebrates their Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy victories with Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Education Minister, and Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS Senior Deputy President.

Powered by their strong arms and the invigorating roar of drumbeats, Team NUS won both the men’s and women’s Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy at the annual Dragon Boat Festival, held at the Bedok Reservoir on 1 July. It was a sweet double for Team NUS after losing both trophies to arch rival NTU last year.

Guest of Honour, Education Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the trophies. Team NUS also came in first in the Tertiary Category (Men) to add the icing on the cake.

In a nail-biting finish for the men’s event, Team NUS pipped the NTU team by just a dragon nose for the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy. Said men’s team captain Teddy Yong: “Half of the team for the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy actually raced in the National Championship just half an hour ago. We were quite tired but we had strong desire to win back the cup.”

A BIG MARGIN: Powered by the strong arms of the girls, Team NUS finishes the race with no challengers in sight.

The women’s team overcame setback in the earlier races and rallied to capture the women’s Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy in their final race. Such was their hunger for victory that they crossed the finishing line almost half a dragon boat length ahead of the second-placed NTU team. “We tell each other we should give 100 percent and row with our heart for the final race. And we finish on a high, we work really hard, we deserve it,” said women’s team captain Tan Zi Wei.

NAIL BITING FINISH: Team NUS (Boat No. 2) and the NTU team were locked in a tight contest from start till finish. NUS emerged the winner with a late surge.

The men’s team also came in second in the National Championship (Men). Team NUS also came in third for the Tertiary Category (Mixed).

The Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy is a yearly traditional dragon boat race among the local universities started in 1999, with the hope that it would develop in status like the Oxford-Cambridge Rowing Race in England.