Dragon boat
Dragon boat racing is a crew of up to 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steerer racing a long, narrow boat down a straight lane. Crews race side by side in heats, then semi-finals or repechages, then finals; the first boat whose bow crosses the line wins. The 2000-metre race runs round a circuit with turns.
New to dragon boat? Start here
How long
Straight races in lanes for crews of up to 20 paddlers
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title for national crews.Every 2 years, odd years (next Hong Kong 2027)
- 2Asian Games (dragon boat)Asia's multi-sport title.Every 4 years; held in 2010, 2018 and 2022; not on the 2026 programme · Holder: Men's: 200 m, 500 m, 1000 m · Women's: 200 m, 500 m, 1000 m
India
India has competed at the Asian Games without a medal.
- Dragon boat at the Asian Games: No medal
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- ChinaDragon boat at the Asian Games: 10 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2022)
- IndonesiaDragon boat at the Asian Games: 4 golds, 9 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2022)
- Chinese TaipeiDragon boat at the Asian Games: 2 golds, 1 silver (latest 2018)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), Rules of Racing (Part 2), edition 9.0 |
| International federation | International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) |
| In India | Disputed. The IDBF's Indian member is Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation; the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association also claims the sport through the ICF, and a Delhi High Court case (2025) is on record |
A published page should say the Indian body is disputed and not name either as the authority (FC section 6). Re-checked 2026-10-20: no later change found.
Where and when it is played
On water, in straight lanes at least 9 metres wide with no more than nine boats in a race. The big events: the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships every two years in odd years and the Asian Games, which held dragon boat in 2010, 2018 and 2022.