Hualien High School of Physical Education wins first gold at IDBF World Championships

The Hualien High School of Physical Education secured Taiwan’s first gold medal at the 15th IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) held at Liyu Lake in Hualien. Competing in the Premier Open 500m small boat category, the team achieved a time of 2 minutes 05.03 seconds to claim the top spot.

The winning team consisted of a mix of current students, recent graduates, and alumni, many of whom have experience in international competitions such as the Asian Games. Coach Hou Hong-zhang noted that the team’s performance exceeded their qualifying rounds and demonstrated a high level of competitiveness suitable for international podiums.

Hualien County Magistrate Xu Zhenwei attended the event to support the athletes, stating that the victory serves as a significant affirmation of the region’s long-term commitment to promoting sports. International officials from the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), including President Claudia Schermi, were also present to congratulate the winners.