北京时间11月18日，增城龙舟场迎来了亚运会首场龙舟比赛。在男子1000米的直道竞速比赛中，印度尼西亚“一路高歌”，始终处于领先位置，并最终以03:32.016的时间完成比赛，赢得冠军，排在亚军和季军位置的分别是缅甸和韩国。中国队位列第四，无缘奖牌。不过，在女子1000米的直道竞速比赛中，中国队捷报频频，最终以 04:03.706分的时间完成比赛，夺得冠军，印尼和泰国分获银牌和铜牌。

龙舟作为中国传统的民间水上体育娱乐项目，已流传了两千多年，多在喜庆节日举行，是多人集体划桨竞赛。传入国外后，深受各国人民的喜爱并形成了国际比赛。2010年，首次进入亚运会。

The Indonesian men and the Chinese women captured the first golds in dragon boat's debut at the Asian Games.

To the sound of drums and spirited battle cries, the Indonesian men and the Chinese women captured the first golds in dragon boat's debut at the Asian Games. The Indonesians pulled out to win a full two seconds ahead of the team from Myanmar and cross the line at 3 minutes, 32.016 seconds. Myanmar was 3:34.542 and South Korea 3:37.254.

In the women's 1,000 meter straight race, China came out first with 4:03.706, followed by Indonesia with 4:14.590 and Thailand's 4:18.292.

Officials had been concerned about high winds and potentially choppy waters ahead of the race on the Zengcheng Dragon Boat Lake, but were met with mild conditions as the races began. Thai rowers complained of high winds on practice day yesterday.

The brightly colored boats took off to the beat of drummers to give the rowers their rhythm. One of the teams in the competition features a 13 year-old-boy on the drums.

The winning Indonesians said they were caught by surprise by the relatively chilly weather at the lake, and made a last-minute search for waterproof shoes in Guangzhou to replace their usual slippers because their feet were too cold.

They bought up 48 pairs at a local store, but said that was still not enough.

"It's very cold when we get out of the boat with our wet feet," said Indonesia's head coach, Muhammad Suryadi.

Suryadi's team was not a factor in the world championships, but did win the inaugural Asian Beach Games in Bali two years ago.

"They are amateurs, and only some of them participated in the Asian Beach Games," he said.

The boats carry 20 paddlers, one person to steer and one drummer.

Six gold medals will be handed out in dragon boat events, with 11 nations competing.

Other races will be held over 500 meters, and 250 meters at the venue which organizers constructed for the games at a cost of 50 million yuan (USD 7.5 million) in Guangzhou's largest wetland.

The Philippines, one of the teams expected to win a medal here, pulled out before the final after a dispute over times recorded in qualifying heats. The Philippines made the finals in all three events in the 2009 World Championships in Florida.

The dragon boat event was added to the Asian Games for Guangzhou, along with cricket, dance sport, roller sports and the chess-like board game of Weiqi.

(Agencies)

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）