Indonesia claims gold in men’s 1000m dragon boat at Hangzhou Asian Games

HANGZHOU, CHINA: Indonesia clinched a thrilling gold medal victory in the men’s 1000m dragon boat race at the Hangzhou Asian Games, showcasing their prowess in water sports.

The intense competition unfolded at the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Center on the eventful Friday (6 Oct).

The Indonesian team, led by the skilled Maizir Riyondra and his determined teammates, left an indelible mark with their performance, clocking an impressive time of 4 minutes and 31.135 seconds.

Their journey to victory, however, was far from straightforward, as they faced stiff competition from the host nation, China, and the resilient team from Myanmar.

China came tantalizingly close with a time of 4 minutes and 31.182 seconds, followed closely by Myanmar at 4 minutes and 32.959 seconds.

The race witnessed a thrilling narrative as Indonesia initially lagged behind, finding themselves in fifth place shortly after crossing the 250m mark.

Undeterred, they summoned their inner strength, making a remarkable push towards the second spot, trailing the dominant Chinese team that had led for most of the race.

In an exhilarating climax, Indonesia gradually closed the gap on the Chinese team during the final 500m stretch.

Their relentless determination paid off as they overtook China in the last moments, claiming victory with a mere 0.047-second lead.

While the home team had to gracefully accept a silver medal, their defeat by the slimmest of margins showcased the fierce competitiveness of the dragon boat event. Myanmar secured the bronze medal, completing the podium.

This gold medal triumph marked a historic moment for Indonesia, as it was their maiden victory in the dragon boat event at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, via their official X account KEMENPORA_RI, extended their hearty congratulations to the Men’s Dragon Boat team for their remarkable achievement in securing Indonesia’s 7th gold medal.

🥇🇮🇩 MEDALI EMAS KE-7 UNTUK INDONESIA!!

Maizir Riyondra & Tim berhasil mempersembahkan medali emas bagi Indonesia dari cabor Dragon Boat di nomor Men's Dragon Boat 1000m, setelah berhasil finish di posisi pertama dengan catatan waktu 4:31.135.
Selamat Tim Dragon Boat Putra! pic.twitter.com/6GTNIyvcWs

— KEMENPORA RI (@KEMENPORA_RI) October 6, 2023

The Indonesian contingent also added another silver medal to their tally in the women’s 1000 meters, finishing second behind China with a time of 4 minutes and 55.385 seconds, leaving South Korea in third place.

In an earlier event on Wednesday (4 Oct), Indonesia achieved a notable feat by clinching a silver medal in the women’s 200m dragon boat race and adding a bronze medal to their collection in the men’s 200m category.

Continuing their impressive run, on Thursday (5 Oct), Indonesia continued to make their mark in dragon boat racing, claiming two more silver medals.

The first silver was earned in the fiercely contested men’s 500m event, while the second silver was secured in the women’s 500m event.

These back-to-back achievements underscore Indonesia’s consistent prowess and commitment to excellence in the sport of dragon boat racing at the Hangzhou Asian Games.