China

Peng fighting for survival of Chinese powerboat

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-25 10:30

HEFEI - Peng Linwu, the first and only Chinese driver in Formula One Powerboat World Championship, is fighting for the survival of the sport in China.

Powerboat, which used to be a competitive sport in China, is on the margin of disappearing at the moment. There were nearly twenty powerboat teams all around the country in the 1980s, but only eight of them survived.

The National Games, the most important sports event in China, kicked out the event of powerboat in the 1990s.

Local sports governing bodies withdrew money from powerboat, because the sport wouldn't bring them any medals in the National Games.

"We are still using the boats we bought 30 years ago," said Peng. "It's difficult to produce a world-level driver with boats like that."

Peng experienced his first F1 Powerboat Championship race in 1995, but he is still waiting for a second Chinese driver to join him. There are fewer and fewer young drivers choosing the sport.

Luckily, things are beginning to change. Peng managed to buy an F2 powerboat worth 1.2 million yuan (about 150,000 U.S. dollars) last year. He hopes the new boat can become a turning point.

"Powerboat is a charming sport, and I'm fighting for her survival. Maybe other people will choose to go away, but withdrawal will never become my choice," said Peng. "It's my responsibility."