S'pore's first migrant worker dragon boat team race again

Just two months after their maiden competition in July, Singapore's first migrant worker dragon boat team were raring to go for their second race.

- Christine Tan

The 12-person Transient Paddlers Count Too team, made up of domestic helpers and other migrant workers, were full of excitement on the morning of Sept 14 at the Water Sports Centre in Kallang.

They were racing in the IHH Singapore Sea Regatta 2024, an international dragon boat competition taking place over two days, on Sept 14 and 15.

Before the race, team leader and domestic helper Tri Winarti, 40, said with a chuckle: "One of the guys talks about the previous competition every day. He says, 'actually, we could have won""" While the team did not make the finals in their maiden competition, they rowed their way to the semi-finals of the 150m premier opens category this time round.

Ms Tri said that though they did not advance to the finals on Sept 14, they are grateful to have a chance to race again. On Sept 15, they are competing in the biathlon category - a race combining dragon boating and running.