East Java to host int'l rowing meet

JAKARTA (JP): The national rowing team will undergo its final test for the 18th Southeast Asian Games when they compete in an international dragon boat race in Mojokerto, East Java, from Aug. 11 to 13.

The squad, which was victorious during its tryouts over the past two weeks, will again take on teams from China, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei during the inaugural race at Brantas River. They will be vying for the Majapahit Kencana gold-polished trophy and top prize money worth Rp 10 million (US$4,500).

Organizers of the dragon boat race said on Monday that the teams will compete in 800-meter and 10-kilometer long distance races down the longest river in East Java in fiberglass boats.

"We are considering organizing the tournament every year from now on," said the chairman of the committee, Masdoekie, as quoted by Antara(amd).