By Anand Holla


In China, dragons have been traditionally believed to be the rulers of rivers, lakes and seas, lording over the clouds and rains from heaven. Dragon boat racing has not only snowballed from a Chinese festival into a global phenomenon, but it has continued to pay tribute to Chinese culture and folklore with a burst of colour and fervour.
Steering forth the 2,000-year-old tradition of Dragon boat, Doha has had its own group named Doha Dragons ever since its founder Jeff Ching put together a diverse team of passionate individuals more than a year ago.
Known as Tuen Ng in Cantonese, Dragon boat racing is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Doha Dragons say: “It was to commemorate the death of a government minister Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River more than 2,000 years ago after being exiled and watching his country become overrun.”
Legend has it that villagers raced out in long wooden boats to try and save him, beating frantically on the drums to drive the fish away from feeding on his body. That’s how a tradition was born; playing out as several vibrant festival races in cities all over the world, and eventually evolving into a racy modern international sport.
While the modern era of this sport began in 1976 when the Hong Kong Tourism Board organised the first international festival race, the sport is now governed by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), the recognised body responsible for the development of the sport.
More than 75 member countries are registered with the IDBF, and last year’s Club Crew World Championships organised by the IDBF is said to have attracted more than 6,500 competitors around the globe.
With Qatar’s first Dragon Boat Festival set to kick off on March 6, from 9am to 4pm at Grand Hyatt Doha, Community caught up with Ching to know what makes this activity so interesting.

Why did you start Doha Dragons, and what was the biggest challenge in making it happen?
When I was working as an expatriate in Hong Kong, Dragon boat racing was one of my favourite sports. That’s because it breaks down barriers and connects people together. I originally initiated the sport in Qatar to continue my training, but it has taken on a new dimension now because so many people here are unaware of this sport, despite it being one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. I want to convert as many dragon boat paddlers as I can while I am living here in Doha.

In what way does Dragon Boat Racing stand out from other forms of boat racing?
The sport’s unique characteristic is that each and every member of the team must work together and paddle in unison to power the boat forward. Everyone on the boat has a unique role, which all comes together to move the boat forward. The sport emphasises teamwork over individuality as opposed to many other sports.  In the West, it is popular as a growing corporate activity.

What values or lessons, do you think, Dragon Boat Racing teaches us?
The sport emphasises team work, and it is one reason why it’s often used as a team or corporate building exercise. On most dragon boat teams I have been involved with, there is a diverse mix of backgrounds and cultures and it does not matter once you get on the boat. Everyone has a role, and you are judged based on the effort you put into the boat.

What is the most heartening thing you have been told about founding this group here?
I have, on many occasions, been told by members how this sport has changed their lives in Doha, because it has connected a good group of people together who otherwise would not have met in this city. It’s tiring at times promoting this new sport here – especially since I have a day job – but learning of stories like these keeps me going.