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Seniors take to the water in Singapore’s first dragon boat race for older adults

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The inaugural event saw 260 participants race across a 200-metre course as part of the Singapore Regatta Waterfest 2026. Organizers, including NTUC Health, Kallang, Sport Singapore, and the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, partnered to bring 26 Active Ageing Centres together for the regatta. NTUC Health Serangoon Central clinched first place with a winning time of 1 minute and 17 seconds. Every competitor received a medal to honor their effort and willingness to tackle the physical demands of paddling.

Key points

  • The regatta was established to counter negative perceptions of ageing and inspire older a…: The regatta was established to counter negative perceptions of ageing and inspire older adults to try new activities.
  • A three-year developmental programme paired National Junior College student paddlers with…: A three-year developmental programme paired National Junior College student paddlers with seniors to prepare them for the race.
  • Event organizers placed primary value on shared teamwork, physical preparation, and activ…: Event organizers placed primary value on shared teamwork, physical preparation, and active engagement rather than race results.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Singapore held its first dragon boat championships for older adults, with 260 seniors aged 60 to 88 from 26 NTUC Health centres racing 200m at Kallang.

- The event came from a three-year programme with National Junior College students and aimed to break negative views of ageing by giving seniors confidence to try new things.

- NTUC Health Serangoon Central AAC won in 1 minute 17 seconds, but organisers said teamwork, training and participation mattered more than winning.

AI generated

SINGAPORE – A steady drumbeat thudded across the basin at the Water Sports Centre in Kallang on Nov 13, 2026 as rows of seniors in matching jerseys dug their paddles into the water, eyes locked on the finish line.

The goal: cover 200m faster than every other boat.

In all, 260 seniors aged 60 to 88 took part in Singapore’s first dragon boat championships for older adults, with 26 teams from NTUC Health Active Ageing Centres (AACs) racing across five heats.

The event was part of the Singapore Regatta Waterfest 2026, organised by NTUC Health and the Kallang with…

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