As the Jinji Lake Dragon Boat Race approaches, three juvenile teams have drawn particular attention.

The Kunpeng Team and Jiaolong Team of SIP Jinji Lake School were established on May 27, 2024. Compared wiyh adult teams, these youngsters possess unique competitive advantages. Full of vigor and vitality, they demonstrate explosive power, quick learning ability, and tenacious perseverance in the face of challenges.

Head coach Guo Sen noted that the most special influence of dragon boat racing on the youngsters’ growth is the shaping of team spirit. This sport has enhanced their sense of collective honor, responsibility, and endurance. The coaching team has scientifically planned training content, focusing on physical conditioning in winter and refining paddling techniques in summer.

The Jinji Lake Little Dragon Team, composed of fourth-to-sixth-grade students from SIP Jinji Lake School, Jingcheng School and Dushu Lake School, is also in intense preparation. They have previously won the third-place team prize in the U12 mixed group at the 2025 National Youth Dragon Boat Championships and the runner-up in the junior middle school group at an earlier session of the Jinji Lake Dragon Boat Race.

To balance academic learning and dragon boat racing training, the team members maintain strong self-discipline. Training is mainly on weekends and holidays, with reduced intensity during exam periods.

The team is now participating in specialized drills tailored according to Jinji Lake’s challenging water conditions such as side winds, large waves, and multiple bends, repeatedly practicing boat control, endurance, and coordination in turns in order to adapt to all possible conditions during the competition.

June 16, 2026