Hualien Hosts Win Again at Dragon Boat Club Championships as Lin Sheng-ru Targets Third Gold

Hualien Physical Education High School claimed its second gold medal at the World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships, delighting home supporters despite heavier rain that briefly disrupted the fourth day of racing.

The Hualien team won the 200-meter elite open 10-person small-boat event after previously taking gold over 500 meters. It qualified first in 46.54 seconds and finished the final in 46.56, beating Germany by 0.84 seconds after pulling clear in the closing stages.

Captain Lin Sheng-ru said the victory was a source of pride for Taiwan and Hualien. “I’m very happy that we could win Taiwan and Hualien’s second gold medal and not disappoint the home crowd,” he said. “There is still the 2,000 meters, and we hope to challenge for a third gold.”

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I’m very happy that we could win Taiwan and Hualien’s second gold medal and not disappoint the home crowd

The championships in Liyu Lake, Shoufeng Township, feature an international field in which overseas competitors make up more than 80 percent of the participants. The result therefore brought particular satisfaction to the local team.

Lin, a 2018 Asian Games dragon boat gold medalist, said four members of the squad had won medals at the Asian or East Asian Games. The team includes alumni and current students, most of them from Hualien. Many also compete in canoeing, combining cross-discipline training with a demanding competition schedule. Lin said his childhood connection to Liyu Lake and the team’s local roots provided a home advantage.

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There is still the 2,000 meters, and we hope to challenge for a third gold