Only one rower, from Pursat, drowned in this year's Water Festival,

organisers said, following a disastrous 2007 that saw five Singaporean

racers die after their boat capsized, as well as the death of one

Cambodian. But three, boats did sink, said Bou Chomsarey, an

undersecretary of state with the Ministry of Education, Youth and

Sport. Last year's tragedy kept foreign boats out of this week's races,

he added. "We didn't have any foreign boats join this year because we

didn't invite them," he said.