Athletes compete in the event. [Photo by Chen Guanyan/China News Service]

The 2023 China-ASEAN International Paddleboard Open kicked off in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Nov 19, bringing together more than 200 paddleboard athletes from China and ASEAN countries.

As a trendy sport that combines leisure and fitness, paddleboarding is highly favored by sports enthusiasts, especially young people, as it offers both excitement and visual appeal.

The competition included four categories, such as the open group, the youth U12 group, and youth U15 group. The four events are the men's 200-meter sprint, women's 200-meter sprint, men's 3,000-meter race, and women's 3,000-meter race.

China and ASEAN countries have abundant water resources, making paddleboarding a sport with great development potential.

Pan Jianhui, deputy head of the Nanning Sports Bureau, noted that the competition provides a platform for paddleboarding enthusiasts to showcase their skills. It also promotes the development of water sports in both China and ASEAN countries.