World champions from Wenzhou visit the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Culture Museum. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

On Feb 2, 17 world champion athletes from Wenzhou, including Zhu Qinan, Zheng Siwei, and Cai Tongtong, visited the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Center in Ouhai district.

For many of the champions, this was their first visit to the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Center, which served as the venue for the dragon boat event in the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games. They expressed genuine delight at the presence of an international standard sports facility in their hometown. Following their visit, they explored the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Culture Museum, where they praised the city's emphasis on sports culture and preservation of traditional dragon boat heritage.

At the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, athletes from Wenzhou secured a remarkable 18 gold, five silver, and two bronze medals, ranking the city first among prefecture-level cities nationwide in gold medals. They also set records by breaking Asian records five times and Asian Games records two times, achieving historic success for Wenzhou athletes.

Reflecting on their visit, Olympic champion Zhu Qinan, also deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Bureau, fondly recalled childhood memories of festive dragon boat races. He highlighted the cultural significance of such traditions deeply rooted in the local community.

Wrapping up their tour, the champions commended Wenzhou's urban development spurred by hosting the Asian Games dragon boat competition, noting the city's impressive architecture and well-maintained infrastructure. They pledged to continue promoting sports in their hometown, leveraging their expertise and commitment to further elevate Wenzhou's sports industry.

According to data from the Wenzhou sports bureau, since 1983, 32 athletes from the city have achieved world championships or Olympic medals. These accomplishments not only bring pride to the country but also add prestige to Wenzhou, underscoring its sporting and cultural vitality.