Contestants compete in a provincial paddle board lifesaving contest held in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 12. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

Ningbo triumphed at a provincial paddle board lifesaving contest held in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 12.

The Ningbo team won two gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal, the best performance for the team in all provincial games so far.

As an emerging water sport, paddle boarding has gained swift popularity worldwide in recent years. It can be divided into different categories including surf paddle boarding, leisure paddle boarding, yoga paddle boarding, and lifesaving paddle boarding. 

Paddle boards have already been widely used as a lifesaving tool in various water sports events. Zhejiang is the first province in China to promote the use of lifesaving paddle boards, and it launched the nation's first lifesaving paddle boarding competition in 2019.

The launch of such a contest will improve the standard use of lifesaving paddle boards, as they are a great way to rescue people who are drowning, according to a staff member at the Ningbo Water Lifesaving Association.

The competition, which was in its fourth edition this year, attracted more than 100 athletes from 10 cities in Zhejiang.                                 

Contestants compete in a provincial paddle board lifesaving contest held in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 12. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]