Unit camaraderie and sporting thrills at the Police Dragon Boat Championship 2025!
By: Teh Ru Xin and Mike Tan
The scorching sun greeted us as we stepped onto the dock, life-jackets strapped on and cameras in hand. Amidst the bustling crowd of dragon boaters, we stood out – two photographers eager to capture the day’s defining moments.
One particular moment caught our attention. “I wonder why they’re splashing water on the dragon’s head,” I mused.
My curiosity piqued, I approached one of the officials on the dock. “It’s to wake the dragon before a race,” he explained. “Some of the teams will even shout at the boat!”
With that, the day came alive in our eyes – the dragons have indeed woken up, greeting us with a roar.
On 14 August 2025, the annual Police Dragon Boat Championship was held at the Singapore Sports Hub’s Water Sports Centre. As one of the highlights on the Police sporting calendar, the event brought together officers from across the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in the spirit of friendly competition.
Taking part this year were teams from Police land divisions, staff departments, specialist staff departments and specialist units. Thankfully, occasional cloudy weather brought relief, and the officers were ready to give their very best.
Teamwork is central to dragon boating. From the drummer to the paddlers and steersperson, each boater has a role to play. The teams put on an excellent show as they competed for top honours across 26 races.
Close coordination and teamwork were very much on display, a testament to dragon boaters’ singular focus and conviction – qualities that they also bring their daily work as Police officers.
Excitement levels were high on land as well. Clad in their unit colours, supporters lined the railings of the Water Sports Centre and cheered as their fellow officers rowed with all they had.
The annual Dragon Boat Championship is also very much a family affair, with youngsters happy to watch the proceedings. Following a number of heats in the morning, the final stretch of races in the afternoon further raised spirits, with units pushing themselves to the limit.
And then it was time for the dragon boaters to claim their prizes. The depth of sporting talent was demonstrated by the number of units that received awards, with the Special Operations Command and Woodlands Division taking top honours for the Overall Specialist and Non-Specialist Championship respectively.
Great work, officers! A job well done by the Police Coast Guard organising committee for the Police Dragon Boat Championship 2025!
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