Prince William Joins Dragon Boat Team for Thrilling Race in Singapore
It’s not every day you get the chance to paddle alongside a British royal! On November 6, 19 paddlers had the unique experience of racing with Prince William, the Prince of Wales, at Marina Reservoir. Dressed casually in a white polo tee and a black cap, he jumped right into the action, paddling energetically in the middle of his dragon boat team.
A Competitive Spirit
The excitement was palpable as Prince William’s team raced against another crew led by British High Commissioner Kara Owen. After a thrilling contest, they emerged victorious. Following the race, the paddlers praised him for being a “natural” and noted how he “didn’t miss a stroke.” The Prince humbly credited his success to the team captain, Chris Bosher, saying, “No, I love sports… I was following the key man in front of me.”
Bosher shared that His Highness was “super engaged” during the race. “He actually said, ‘Seriously guys, I want to win this,’ so there was no option really. We had to win!”
A Familiar Sport
Interestingly, this wasn’t Prince William’s first foray into dragon boating. He revealed to the crew that he had tried it during his school days and even in Canada. Kirthana Lakshman, the crew’s treasurer, remarked, “His Royal Highness was very competitive. I think he did a lot of homework because he knew he was part of the engines, which is the critical part of the boat.”
After the race, he excitedly exclaimed, “Oh, we won by miles!” It was clear that he enjoyed this refreshing break from his usual royal duties, allowing him to connect with the team on a personal level.
A Memorable Visit
Prince William’s visit to Singapore is part of his itinerary for the third annual Earthshot Prize ceremony taking place on November 7. He is also scheduled to meet with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his stay. This marks his second visit to Singapore, following his official trip in 2012 with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The dragon boat team expressed their delight at racing with the Prince, noting that their motto is “party hard, paddle hard,” and he fully embraced the spirit of the day.
Boosting Water Sports in Singapore
Prince William’s participation in dragon boating highlights the sport’s potential in Singapore. To further promote water sports, initiatives could include:
– **Subsidised Trials**: The government could offer subsidies for dragon boat teams to provide free or low-cost trials for the public.
– **School Programs**: Incorporating water sports into school physical education curricula would encourage young Singaporeans to engage in these activities.
By making water sports more accessible, we can inspire a new generation of paddlers in Singapore.
For more updates on local events and royal visits, check out Channel News Asia.