KUCHING – The rowing team of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus paddled their way to the Fair Play Trophy at the Sarawak Regatta which was held at the Kuching Waterfront over the weekend (Sunday, 1 August).
Participating for the first time and with only three weeks to prepare, the team proved that with determination and hard work, one can achieve great things.
The university’s 20-men team was pitted against more experienced competitors in the category for public and private institutions of higher learning, and took forth place.
A total of seven teams competed in the category.
The Swinburne Sarawak team was awarded the Fair Play Trophy for being the most multicultural team, good sportsmanship and team spirit, as well as for being well-organised.
The rowers, made up of Malaysian and international students as well as five university staff, trained for about two hours daily for only three weeks prior to the race.
The Sarawak Regatta is an annual event held at the Sarawak River along the Kuching waterfront as part of Malaysia’s national day celebration.
More than 5,000 participants from over 300 teams took part in traditional longboat races, kayak and ‘perahu tambang’ (water taxi) races as well as other popular water sports.
This year, the regatta also saw entries from Indonesia and Brunei.