SINGAPORE – Two hours of racing a dragon boat across Bedok Reservoir was a hot and sweaty affair, but 26-year-old Ashwin S. Sheernali was happy to have done it on June 14 morning.

It was a chance for him and his father, Mr Sheernali G. Sheshachala, 54, to compete in a sport they both love.

The pair have been rowing and training together for close to five years, after they found out about the sport through a support group for people with autism.

Mr Sheernali, an IT consultant, said it gave them an opportunity to have quality time together in a dedicated window each week.

It has also improved his son’s sleep quality and coordination, he added.

Mr Ashwin, who has autism, was among some 200 people with disabilities who took part in the Paddle As One North East dragon boat race event, which had more than 3,500 participants altogether.

The event had 64 teams of different abilities, ages and backgrounds, including individuals with special needs and children from low-income families. Sixteen of the teams were in the Adaptive Open category that included people with disabilities. It was Singapore’s largest inclusive dragon boat race, said the organisers.

It was put together by the North East Community Development Council (CDC), North East District grassroots organisations and Singapore Dragon Boat Association as part of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was the guest of honour at the race.

Ahead of the race, DPM Gan, North East District Mayor Baey Yam Keng, Potong Pasir MP Alex Yeo and Aljunied GRC grassroots adviser Chan Hui Yuh, took part in the traditional ceremony of dotting the “eyes” of the boats, which symbolises awakening the dragon.

Six boats featured artwork by three artists with various disabilities – Mr Alex Lim, 20, who has autism; Mr Gary Chong, 28, who has intellectual disability; and Ms Sabrina Han, 37, who has autism spectrum disorder and several mental health conditions.

Their artwork included depictions of the ingredients used in rice dumplings as well as elements from the tale of Qu Yuan that is closely tied to the commemoration of the Dragon Boat Festival, which was on May 31.

There were nine race categories, including for mixed-gender teams, single-gender teams, those in tertiary education and those with disabilities in the Adaptive Open category.