Pune: National Rowing Championship Kick-Starts in PCMC with Top Athletes in the Spotlight
Dapodi, 30th January 2024: The 41st Senior and 25th Open Sprint National Rowing Championships commenced yesterday at the Army Rowing Complex in Pune, drawing attention to accomplished athletes vying for top honours. Among the contenders are the bronze-winning duo of Babulal Yadav and Lekhram in the men’s pair category, as well as the formidable team of Puneet Kumar, Jaswinder Singh, Bhim Singh, and Ashish in the men’s four category. Balraj Panwar, who secured fourth place in single sculls at the Asian Championships, is also a key figure to watch.
The prestigious event was inaugurated at the Army Rowing Node at the College Of Military Engineering, Dapodi, with distinguished guests including CME Commandant Lt Gen AK Ramesh, PCMC Additional Commissioner Vijaykumar Khorate, All India Rowing Association Treasurer Nababuddin Ahmed, and Organizing Committee Chairman Commandant AS Kanwar. The inauguration marked the commencement of a highly anticipated competition featuring 474 athletes from across the country.
Competing for titles in various categories, the top 27 teams in the country, including the Services Sports Board, Army Sports Board, and All India Police Force, are set to showcase their rowing prowess. The 41st Senior and 25th Open Sprint National Rowing Championships promise intense battles, with 450 rowers representing 27 states.
Lt Gen AK Ramesh expressed his pleasure at hosting enthusiastic and competitive rowers, highlighting the growth of competitive sports in India. He acknowledged the capability of Indian athletes to challenge the best in the world, as demonstrated in international competitions, including the Asian Games.
Col R Ramakrishnan, Joint Secretary, emphasized the honour of organizing a national rowing competition where armed forces athletes lead the way. The event, hosted by the Army Rowing Node at CME for the third consecutive time and the sixth time overall, reflects the commitment to promoting rowing excellence.
The competition will unfold in seven groups each for men and women, featuring events such as single sculls, double sculls, coxless pair, and coxless four. Distances of 2000m and 500m will be covered in various races, showcasing the diverse skills of the participating athletes. The event is co-organized by PCMC and has received approval from the Rowing Federation of India, under the auspices of the Army Rowing Node, CME, Pune.
