​Woman, 54, takes on all-male teams in boat racing

With family and friends cheering on, 54-year-old Weng Yanping said she felt electric and energized to paddle the dragon boat to compete in the annual race in her hometown of Miluo, Hunan province, on Monday.

Weng and another 21 all-female members, with the average age of over 40 participated in the competition held in the Miluo River to commemorate the Dragon Boat Festival.

Each team consists of 22 members—20 paddlers, one drummer, and one helmsman.

They competed with 19 other all-male teams in a 500-meter race and finished last, but Weng said she was excited and satisfied.

The women's team was founded in 1988, and she has been a member since then and participated in the race every year.

"For people in Miluo, boat racing during the festival is in our blood, and we are proof that regardless of age or gender, anyone can participate and enjoy team sports," she said.

One of the most popular stories of the festival's origins is that of Qu Yuan, an exiled poet and politician during the Warring States period (475-221BC). Upon hearing his state, Chu, had fallen, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River.

Villagers paddled out in boats to save him and, upon realizing it was too late, threw rice dumplings, or Zongzi, into the river to prevent fish from eating his body. They also thrashed their paddles and beat their drums to scare them away.

Therefore, boat racing and eating sticky rice dumplings have become one of the most prevalent traditions for people to commemorate the festival and the patriot Qu.