Dong Aili could almost taste the glory of victory as her dragon boat closed in on the finish line. Her team, Jiujiang Women’s Dragon Boat Team, was just one candidate selected to compete for the honor of representing China in dragon boat racing at the upcoming Asian Games.

 Organizers have been scouring the country for worthy competitors to form the national team since 2008, when dragon boat was added to the list of Guangzhou Asian Games events. “Of the 42 events of the Games, 28 are also in the Olympics, and 14 are exclusively Asian,” explains Xu Jianping, deputy director of the Sports Department of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC). “Dragon boat is one of six new events, and it includes races at 250 meters, 500 meters, and 1,000 meters for both men and women.”

Dragon boat racing is a traditional event most popular in South China. Historical records show that large-scale competitions were already common in Guangdong during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

“China’s dragon boat racing has been famous throughout the world for ages,” remarks Zou Jijun from the General Administration of Sports of China. Today, there are more than 300,000 teams scattered throughout the country including 3,000 from Fuzhou in Fujian Province and 4,000 from Wenzhou in Zhejiang, which compete at the national level. “The event has enjoyed lasting popularity across the country because it is so closely related to a major Chinese festival [Dragon Boat Festival],” continues Zou. “And in recent years, its popularity has grown around the world.”

However, according to Zou, the Chinese team has faced stiff competition from teams hailing from Europe, America, and Southeast Asia during international events. In order for China to prevail in this native sport, Zou believes that the team must gather the best talent from all corners of the country.