北京時間11月18日，增城龍舟場迎來了亞運會首場龍舟比賽。在男子1000米的直道競速比賽中，印度尼西亞“一路高歌”，始終處于領先位置，并最終以03:32.016的時間完成比賽，贏得冠軍，排在亞軍和季軍位置的分別是緬甸和韓國。中國隊位列第四，無緣獎牌。不過，在女子1000米的直道競速比賽中，中國隊捷報頻頻，最終以 04:03.706分的時間完成比賽，奪得冠軍，印尼和泰國分獲銀牌和銅牌。

龍舟作為中國傳統的民間水上體育娛樂項目，已流傳了兩千多年，多在喜慶節日舉行，是多人集體劃槳競賽。傳入國外后，深受各國人民的喜愛并形成了國際比賽。2010年，首次進入亞運會。

The Indonesian men and the Chinese women captured the first golds in dragon boat's debut at the Asian Games.

To the sound of drums and spirited battle cries, the Indonesian men and the Chinese women captured the first golds in dragon boat's debut at the Asian Games. The Indonesians pulled out to win a full two seconds ahead of the team from Myanmar and cross the line at 3 minutes, 32.016 seconds. Myanmar was 3:34.542 and South Korea 3:37.254.

In the women's 1,000 meter straight race, China came out first with 4:03.706, followed by Indonesia with 4:14.590 and Thailand's 4:18.292.

Officials had been concerned about high winds and potentially choppy waters ahead of the race on the Zengcheng Dragon Boat Lake, but were met with mild conditions as the races began. Thai rowers complained of high winds on practice day yesterday.

The brightly colored boats took off to the beat of drummers to give the rowers their rhythm. One of the teams in the competition features a 13 year-old-boy on the drums.

The winning Indonesians said they were caught by surprise by the relatively chilly weather at the lake, and made a last-minute search for waterproof shoes in Guangzhou to replace their usual slippers because their feet were too cold.

They bought up 48 pairs at a local store, but said that was still not enough.

"It's very cold when we get out of the boat with our wet feet," said Indonesia's head coach, Muhammad Suryadi.

Suryadi's team was not a factor in the world championships, but did win the inaugural Asian Beach Games in Bali two years ago.

"They are amateurs, and only some of them participated in the Asian Beach Games," he said.

The boats carry 20 paddlers, one person to steer and one drummer.

Six gold medals will be handed out in dragon boat events, with 11 nations competing.

Other races will be held over 500 meters, and 250 meters at the venue which organizers constructed for the games at a cost of 50 million yuan (USD 7.5 million) in Guangzhou's largest wetland.

The Philippines, one of the teams expected to win a medal here, pulled out before the final after a dispute over times recorded in qualifying heats. The Philippines made the finals in all three events in the 2009 World Championships in Florida.

The dragon boat event was added to the Asian Games for Guangzhou, along with cricket, dance sport, roller sports and the chess-like board game of Weiqi.

(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）