Services assert supremacy at 43rd Senior National Rowing Championships in Pune

The 43rd Senior National Rowing Championships concluded on January 31 at the Army Rowing Node (ARN) under the Mission Olympics Wing of the College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune, reaffirming the central role of institutional programmes in shaping India’s rowing future.

Over five intense days of racing from January 27–31, India’s finest rowers across senior, junior and para categories competed for national supremacy, with Services emerging as overall champions, winning eight gold medals to underline their dominance. 

The event, organised by the Rowing Federation of India (RFI) in collaboration with the Indian Army, brought together athletes from across the country at India’s only man-made international-standard rowing channel. The 2,200-metre course at ARN once again proved why it is the backbone of elite rowing in India providing fair, neutral and technically precise racing conditions that match global standards. 

Services lead from the front

The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) topped the medal table with eight golds and one silver, followed by the RFI team in second place with three gold medals, while Madhya Pradesh finished third with two golds. The results reflected the depth and structure of India’s armed forces sports ecosystem, where athletes train year-round in a high-performance environment backed by sports science, coaching continuity and world-class infrastructure. 

The Army Rowing Node, which has produced seven Olympians and all five Indian medal winners from the 2023 Asian Games rowing squad, continues to be the gold standard for the sport in the country. The championship also highlighted the growing importance of institutional teams such as Services, Army and Police, which now account for most of India’s international-level rowers.

One of the most dramatic moments of the championship came in the men’s single scull, where Balraj Panwar of Services edged out Salman Khan of Army by just 0.02 seconds, clocking 7:31.20 against 7:31.22. The race showcased the razor-thin margins that now define Indian rowing at the elite level and demonstrated the quality being produced by the military training system. 

In the men’s double scull, Asian Championship gold medallists Ajay Tyagi and Lakshay (competing as part of the RFI team) produced a polished performance to take gold in 6:36.50, ahead of Ujjwal Kumar Singh and Sushil. Their victory was especially significant as both rowers were fielded by RFI due to the suspension of their home state association, a move that ensured no elite athlete was excluded because of administrative issues. 

Services were equally dominant in the men’s quadruple scull, where Rohit, Kulwinder Singh, Satnam Singh and Manjeet Kumar stormed to gold in 6:03.90, once again underlining the technical and physical edge of the Services programme.

Madhya Pradesh leads the women’s charge

While Services ruled the men’s field, Madhya Pradesh emerged as a key force in women’s rowing. Santosh Yadav delivered a commanding performance in the women’s single scull, winning gold in 8:22.50, finishing well clear of Maharashtra’s Mrunmayee Salgaonkar and Kerala’s Saniya J Krishnan. 

MP added another gold in the women’s pair, with Manisha Dangi and Jigyasa Regar timing 7:56.60, showing the state’s growing strength in sweep rowing disciplines. Meanwhile, the women’s lightweight double scull was won by B Anandhi and Kiran Devi of All India Police, reflecting the widening base of institutional women’s rowing in India.

Para-rowing highlights inclusivity

A standout feature of the championships was the Para Single Scull event, which drew widespread praise for its competitiveness and spirit. With rowing now a key Paralympic sport, India’s focus on para-athletes is increasing, and the ARN’s controlled racing environment allows fair and high-quality competition for athletes across classifications. 

RFI’s athlete-first approach

The championships also demonstrated a shift in Indian rowing governance. With some state associations suspended, the Rowing Federation of India directly entered several athletes as an RFI team to protect their competitive opportunities. This ensured that no high-performance rower was sidelined due to administrative gaps, and the success of RFI-fielded athletes vindicated the decision.  National head coach Ismail Baig confirmed that these championships will play a key role in identifying the Asian Games 2026 probables, with medal winners and consistent performers forming the core of the national squad.

Summing up the championship, RFI President Balaji Maradapa praised the standard of competition and the commitment shown by the athletes.

“Over three days, we witnessed exceptional racing, remarkable determination, and a consistently high standard of performance across all categories. I congratulate all the winners and commend every participant for raising the benchmark of Indian rowing,” he said. 

With the Asian Games and the next Olympic cycle on the horizon, the 43rd Senior National Rowing Championships have once again confirmed that India’s rowing pipeline is deepening powered by institutional excellence, improved infrastructure and a new athlete-centric approach.