Rafters inspect Asahan River

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Participants of the second Asahan Whitewater Festival were undergoing final preparations on Thursday after the event was officially opened by North Sumatra's deputy governor Abdul Wahab Dalimunthe.

More than 200 athletes, including 28 international participants will take part in rafting and canoeing events, the categories of which are rodeo, head to head, downriver and slalom.

There were no events staged on Thursday as the participants were busy preparing their equipment and scouting the river.

"The six-kilometer route along Asahan River is safe and there are no dangerous sections. Most are graded between third class and fifth class plus," organizer Simon Pramono told reporters.

Friday will see slalom rafting and head-to-head kayak events. Downriver race rafting and rodeo kayaking are slated for Saturday. Downriver kayaking and head-to-head rafting are scheduled to take place on Sunday. -- JP