April 2, eNorth from Hong Kong: There are four women teams taking part in the "2001 Tianjin Week in Hong Kong Wanlong Cup Dragon Boat Race". They are: Macao Polytechnic Institute Women's Team, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association Women's Team, Hong Kong Dragon Oar Association Women's Team and Tianjin Normal University Women's Team. The latter two teams are especially attractive in this race.

The Hong Kong Dragon Oar Association Women's Team is an world-leveled team of high strength that no Asian team matches for and have won world championship for many times. Although Tianjin Normal University Women's Team is not famous at all, all the team members are tall and stronger than that of the other teams. The leader of the team Qi Jianxin tells us before the race begins that it is the 4th time for Tianjin Normal University Women's Dragon Boat Team to take part in dragon boat races and also the first time to compete with the teams from other regions. Tianjin Normal University Women's Dragon Boat Team have already taken part in the local contests in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and got good results. Since at that time men and women's teams had to compete togther, they even defeated several men's teams.

Which one of the two teams will win? The specialists intrduce that the route of this contest is only 500 meters long which is different from the 10-kilometer races that Tianjin teams used to take part in. Therefore, the technique, the condition of the team members in the contest and whether the members can adjust their psychological state or not will be the crucial factor of the race's result.

The competetion seems to begin as soon as the two teams appear. The racers of Hong Kong Dragon Oar Association Team take off their overcoats and prepare for getting on the boat. Their delicately designed race-coats cause a small ferment in the audiences: a red dragon stretches from the throat to the abdomen on the deep purple background. Now it's Tianjin Normal University Women's Team's turn to appear. A sudden applause and cheer welcomes them. Their pink race coats are lucid and in good taste. Their tall figures look full of youthful vigor in their race coats. The audiences begin to gather to the dock for them to get on the boat. They have already win one score just before the race begins.

It is commenly thought that dragon boat race is the activity belongs to men. Dragon boat race performs mostly the firm, strength, cooperation and belief. Once a person thinks of "dragon boat", he will always associate it with sun-tanned skin, strong muscles and low-tuned order. But this day, the young girls changed people's opinions completely.

"Tung, tung, tung, tung", the drumbeats sound like being beaten on people's hearts. The four dragon boats leave the bank for the start line. Although this is only a warming excises, the two teams begin their competition immediately. 20 oars moved almost at the same time. The paddling frequency of Tianjin Normal University Women Team's is very high. They are the first one that reaches the starting line. "Young" is their advantage. Hong Kong Dragon Boat Oar Association Team slow down. Their rich experiences tell them that a steady psychological state is the top important. In this round, the two teams draw.

The race begins! Watching from farway place, the four boats are competing intensely. The quickly paddled oars send up a fountain of spray. It's difficult to tell who will be the winner. Before the half route is finished, Hong Kong Dragon Oar Women's Team and Tianjin Normal University Women's Team begin to be on the leading place side by side. Looking from the side place, both the two dragon boats and the racers overlap together. The paddling frequency of Tianjin Normal University Women's Team is higher than their competitor's. Behind their paddling arms are faces which are pale because of nervousness and wide-opened eyes. They extremely hope to defeat their competitor. They can not hear the cry of encouraging for them. Their action becomes a bit disorderly because of excitment. While at the same time their competitor still keep their steady frequency.

At last the young and vigorous is defeated by the experienced and staid. The disparity of less than half a boat makes them disappointed. But soon they brace up again, paddling their boat to the bank and stirring up the water to their competitor naughtily. Before long, that becomes their common celebration style. The girls' peals of laughter spread far and wide. They are beautiful because of sports. They are beautiful because of young. They form a bright and nice scenery.

(Journalists: Zhang Huijun, Wang Wei)