Wuhan University made a great finish to an exceptional season by winning all three races—men’s 800 meters, 200 meters and mixed 500 meters—in the fifth “Wuhan Twinstar” Friendly Dragon Boat Race between Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. On the early morning of June 3rd, the East Lake Scenic Area, still covered in mist from rainfall, was crowded with thrilled audiences. The “Wuhan Twinstar” Dragon Boat Race kicked off in the shouting excitement of the audiences.
Hearing the prompt tone for the upcoming men’s 800 meters, audiences waited for the beginning of the competition while holding their breath. HUST took the early lead, but when approaching the 200 meter mark, WHU quickly overturned the deficit and beat its strong rival. With consistent rhythm, WHU continued to draw away from HUST and ended up winning the first race without a hitch.
WHU paddlers rowing with great poise and strength
As there exists wide physical disparities between man and woman, the following mixed 500 m can best examine the significance of teamwork. WHU took the lead at the beginning of the match, but HUST, refused to go down without a fight, got a second wind passing the podium and surpassing WHU. Nonetheless, as both teams were approaching the finish line, WHU withstood the pressure and eventually crossed the finish line in triumph.
"HUST was pushing hard at the last 50 meters to the finish line, but we started to sprint even earlier”, said Shen Shuyuan, an undergraduate paddler from WHU. “The mixed team this year is the strongest over the years. Owing to intensive training, we set new record in the history of WHU Dragon Boat Team during daily training.”
The dragon boat team celebrating their victory
The race turned white-hot after WHU won twice, with only one race ahead. A victory in men’s 200 meters would mark the new record set by WHU in the past five years. “We have full confidence in WHU Dragon Boat Team, and hope that we can win this match”, said Yang Zilong, the cheerleader.
The 200 meters is all about explosive power and speed. Two dragon boats galloped on the moment referee ordered. WHU held the lead from the beginning, drew further and further away from the team of HUST and ended up winning the race a dragon-boat length ahead of the rival.
“3:0! We won!” shouting with excitement, WHUers were immersed in the joy of victory.
Behind the victory is sweat and tears. “We are under intensive daily training: every day from 6:30 in the morning before class, and after class to 8:30 pm when the dining hall is out of service. Rain or shine, we train every day regardless of the weather. It is by no means easy. ” It is the last game for Shen Shuyuan, “I will come next year to support my team.”
Li Haibin, coach of WHU Dragon Boat team, believes that “Wuhan Twinstar” — dragon boat teams from both WHU and HUST have made huge progress through competition, and hopes that this tradition will live on. Zhou Jiuqiang, the undergraduate team leader from the Men’s boat team, also said: “I hope people will value this tradition as an extension of friendship between our two universities instead of paying attention to the result alone.”
In October, 2011, WHU and HUST signed a cooperation agreement. According to the agreement, Li Xiaohong, the president of Wuhan University, proposed to hold annual Dragon Boat Race between WHU and HUST to inherit the tradition of boat racing between Cambridge and Oxford. In the past few years since the establishment, WHU Dragon Boat Team has participated in several major national competitions and ranked among the top in the 4th Wuhan Dragon Boat Race.
(Rewritten by Fang Siyuan, edited by Zheng Xingnian, Xiang Jiahao & Hu Sijia)
