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Indian scullers prove a point

Principal Correspondent

Three-member team to compete in two events

— Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

DOING THE NATION PROUD: Rowers Devender Kumar, Manjeet Singh and Bajrang Lal will represent India in the Beijing Olympics.

HYDERABAD: Three rowers — Bajrang Lal (single scull) and Manjeet Singh and Devender Kumar (light weight double sculls) — will be leaving on Wednesday for a training session in Shanghai ahead of the Beijing Olympics. And for the first time in the Olympics, India will be competing in two rowing events.

C.P.S. Deo, President of the Rowing Federation of India, on Tuesday, organised a farewell function in a renovated shed, adjacent to Youth Hostel which is aptly referred to as the ‘Rowers Hall of Fame’ as a tribute to the rowers and the coach Dronacharya Ismail Baig.

No promise of medals

“I won’t promise medals or boast of big achievements. I would say it would be a great achievement if we finish in the top 20 in a field of 31,” said the RFI chief.

He said that Asia No.2 Bajrang is capable of pulling off a surprise. “But, we don’t want to put too much pressure on these rowers by raising the expectation levels.”

Deo knows how much adversity he and his rowers have had to face. The much-hyped National Rowing Academy has not yet come up. Nor has there been any improvement in the basic facilities for the rowers at the make-shift base.

For their part, the rowers are confident and totally focused on the Beijing Olympics. Bajrang said that he was confident of warding off the challenge of the Asians and the Africans in the fray.

He also hopes to put up a good show against the formidable Europeans and the Chinese. “National pride should be a huge inspiration for all of us,” said the 2006 Asian Games silver medallist.

No pressure

Manjeet Singh and Devender Kumar said that they are not feeling any pressure about competing in the Olympics.

“We are just hoping to do our best. We all know it’s a totally different proposition at the Games in terms of the high standard of competition.”

Coach Baig summed up the mood when he said: “We have proved a point or two about our commitment by achieving the first objective of qualifying for the Olympics.

“Any surprise performance in the Games will be a huge bonus. But, honestly, we are looking beyond the Beijing Games.”

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