SINGAPORE – 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.
The 12-person Transient Paddlers Count Too team, made up of domestic helpers and other migrant workers, was buzzing with excitement on the morning of Sept 14 at the Water Sports Centre in Kallang.
They were racing in the IHH Healthcare Singapore Sea Regatta 2024, an international dragon boat competition, which is 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 (a team member) 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 race, they rowed their way to the semi-finals of the 150m Premier Opens category this time.
Though they did not advance to the finals on Sept 14, Ms Tri said 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.
The team, founded by a volunteer from non-profit organisation Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), first made waves when The Straits Times reported about their debut at local sports festival Pesta Sukan 2024 on July 27.
S’pore’s first migrant worker dragon boat team take part in their second race with sponsor’s help
