The team ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ made up of staff and family members from the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa together with Malaysian students studying in Canadian Universities defended their title for the fourth year in a row in the Ottawa International Dragon Boat Race held from 22 to 24 June 2012. The team emerged champions in the Embassies and Foreign Missions category.
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Canada, Her Excellency Dato’ Hayati Ismail said, “I am very proud of their efforts and we have proven to be a formidable team in this annual international dragon boat event. The team has shown enormous spirit and this reflects very positively on Malaysia.”
The drummer, Syaza Hisham is a third year bio-technology student at Carleton University while the steerperson, Megat Mohd Syukri Shuib is a final year engineering student at Carleton University. One of the 20 peddlars in the team, final year Ottawa University student Suriani Dzulkifly said of the race, “It was very tiring, but all very worth it!”
Team captain, Mrs. Rozalah Hashim Second Secretary at the High Commission of Malaysia, Ottawa said this year’s team was very disciplined and performed extremely well. “The team’s commitment this year was certainly a big part of our success,” she said.
The Ottawa Dragon Boat Race is the largest Dragon Boat Festival in North America and attracted some 202 teams from across Canada and around the world this year.
The team’s participation in the race was sponsored by Tourism Malaysia; Education Malaysia Ottawa; and supported and organised by the High Commission of Malaysia.
High Commissioner Dato’ Hayati Ismail (in white with scarf above the Malaysian flag) with the Malaysia Truly Asia Team prior to the race.
The spirited Malaysia Truly Asia Team (in boat number 2) after crossing the finishing line.
The triumphant Malaysia Truly Asia Team jubilant during the presentation of prizes ceremony.
