The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) organized the 9th FCAS International Dragon Boat Race from 7 to 9 June 2024, at Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.  

A proud tradition, the dragon boat race has been a spectacular water sport event held during the Dragon Boat Festival. It is not only an activity with profound cultural heritage, but it is also a sporting event that showcases the importance of teamwork and determination. Doo Group participated in this event as a sponsor and competed with dragon boat teams across the world to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. 

Promoting the Legacy and Development of Chinese Culture 

The Federation of Chinese Associations in Sabah was established in 1994. It currently houses 152 Chinese associations with members from diverse backgrounds and industries in Sabah. The Federation is dedicated to building a harmonious society, fostering friendly relationships between different races, and working together towards a better future.  

Since 2014, the FCAS has been authorized by Sabah’s government to organize the FCAS International Dragon Boat Race. Each year, the federation invited participants of different races and religions to join in the fun to further enhance cultural, sporting, and tourism exchange between Malaysia and its international counterparts. 

The FCAS International Dragon Boat Race has become a symbol of Sabah’s culture, and this year it has been listed as one of the key celebration events for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia. 

Doo Group is the prestige sponsor of this year’s dragon boat race, and we are excited to collaborate with the FCAS to carry forward this Chinese tradition and to promote the cultural legacy and development of the Dragon Boat Racing. 

Forming Friendships Through Dragon Boat Racing and Festive Celebration 

This dragon boat race lasted for 3 days and attracted 145 teams from 4 countries to participate in the grand event. All participants gathered at Likas Bay and competed for the champion title in 11 categories. 

On 7 June, a passionate beach party at Likas Bay marked the opening of this racing event. Many guests came together to watch the stunning singing and dancing performances. During the event, Doo Group received a token of appreciation from the Federation of Chinese Associations of Sabah for sponsoring this year’s Dragon Boat Race. Doo Group’s Operation Director, Hellen Tan, represented the company to receive the reward and took photos with the organizers. 

The official race started on 8 June. At the starting gun, the dragon boats rode the waves in full steam. Our DOOer dragon boat team, led by Hellen Tan and consisting of 11 members, also participated in the C11 Hua Zong President Trophy (Mix Team) (800 meters) category. Sculling the dragon boat with the Doo Group logo, they crossed the finishing line, showcasing their exceptional dragon boat paddling ability.  

Our DOOer dragon boat team was one of the finalists and placed 6th in the category. They showcased an excellent performance through resilience, teamwork, and camaraderie.  After two days of intense racing, the champion for each category is revealed. 

This 3-day event not only gave the audiences an incredible audio-visual feast, but it also let people across the world experience the energetic charm of this Chinese culture.  

As an international financial services group, Doo Group has focused on and respected the culture of each country, and we greatly understand that there is a correlation between cultural prosperity and economic developments. We recognized the importance of building a harmonious society through promoting cultural legacies and exchanges. 

In the future, Doo Group will continue to exert social values as an international financial services group by focusing on cultural exchanges, philanthropic events, etc.