PONTIANAK, The Kabar News—The 2026 Pontianak Dragon Boat Race officially began on the Kapuas River on Friday, Nov. 6, after haze and poor air quality forced organizers to postpone the competition in August.

The three-day event runs through Nov. 8 at Taman Alun Kapuas in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. It forms part of the city’s 255th anniversary celebrations and the province’s 14th Provincial Games (Porprov).

Pontianak Deputy Mayor Bahasan opened the competition, which brings together teams from several parts of Indonesia. Organizers said 72 teams would compete across three categories: 30 in the Open Men division, 30 representing communities or organizations and 12 in the women’s exhibition event.

“Thank God, we can hold the 2026 Dragon Boat Race today, although it was previously postponed because of the haze,” Bahasan said. “Hopefully, this event will motivate and encourage all of us, particularly in supporting the development of Pontianak and West Kalimantan.”

Bahasan said the competition could strengthen Pontianak’s position as a sport-tourism destination. The Kapuas River provides the city with a prominent natural venue for rowing competitions and other water-based events.

The deputy mayor added that participants and visitors could generate business for hotels, restaurants and local transportation providers. Micro and small enterprises could also benefit from increased activity around the venue.

Organizers originally scheduled the race for Aug. 28–30 with international and 22-paddler categories. However, haze reduced air quality in Pontianak and raised health concerns for competitors participating in an intensive outdoor sport.

The city administration subsequently rescheduled the competition for Nov. 6–8. During the original August dates, organizers held a charity event and distributed assistance to residents affected by the haze.

Delegations from Brunei and Malaysia that had already arrived received commemorative medals, according to the Pontianak city administration.

This month’s competition focuses primarily on Indonesian participants. Guests from China, Taiwan and Malaysia attended parts of the program, but organizers did not classify their presence as full international team participation.

Bahasan said Pontianak would continue working to develop the race into a regular international event.

“We will continue to support it,” he said. “Hopefully, this Dragon Boat Race can become a permanent international event so that Pontianak and West Kalimantan become better known across Indonesia and in other countries.”

The competition also marks the beginning of rowing events at the 2026 West Kalimantan Porprov. The provincial games run from Nov. 4 to 21 and feature 59 sports.

The rowing program includes dragon boat, kayak, canoe and rowing events. These competitions allow regional associations to assess athletes who may later represent West Kalimantan at national tournaments.

Naval Regional Command XII has supported the race as part of its maritime outreach. The command previously described the tournament as an opportunity to promote water sports and strengthen cooperation between local institutions, according to the Indonesian Navy.

Bahasan urged competitors to maintain sportsmanship and use the event to build relationships between regions.

“Hopefully, this event will continue to grow and inspire athletes and the public,” he said. “We want sport to progress and Pontianak to become better known through positive activities, including water sports.”

Turning the race into a permanent international fixture will require consistent scheduling and stronger participation from foreign teams. Organizers must also maintain air-quality safeguards so that future competitions can proceed without compromising the health of athletes or spectators.