Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Treading new waters
|
The rowing championship conducted by the Karnataka Amateur Rowing Association has revived its fortunes, but it can do better
|
LONG WAY TO GO The competition was mediocre but for some close encounters in the Challengers' section for men Photos: Murali Kumar K.
The oars sliced and splashed through the waters of Ulsoor Lake and the ripples lasted four days. After four years of hibernation, the Karnataka Amateur Rowing Association (KARA) seems to have finally set sail, conducting the 8th Sub Junior and 10th Challengers' National Sprint and Super Sprint Rowing Championships in the city.
With the Madras Engineering Group and Centre (MEG and Centre) throwing its weight behind the organisers in providing both technical and infrastructural support, the championship was a success but KARA seems to have lost much of its sheen over the years. Probably having had no meets (read events) to show for in the last four or five years, KARA needs to be fine-tuned into smooth action.
That is where the efforts of the event managers — Catapult Connect with the dynamism of Anand Shankar and the sustained perseverance of Rosemary Caroll — paid off. This group has been pitching in its mite for this sport and has even ventured to start a camp for beginners. Though this was its first venture and there were a few areas that needed to be ironed out, overall the championship did get its due despite an ominous void in the form of genuine sponsors.
The competition was mediocre but for some close encounters in the Challengers' section for men. And the events — the Sprint (500 metres) and the Super Sprint (250 metres) — are not internationally approved (more like the Twenty20 version of cricket that is drawing crowds in numbers back on the cricket field).
The Sprints was anybody's game. If the longer version was more pronounced, the Super Sprints saw the fancied taking a few dips. The Services, the undoubted kings of water sports in the country, had to settle for a lone bronze in the 250 metres. They had won two golds in the 500 metres only the previous day. Maharashtra and West Bengal too faded away in the senior sections and it was the young talents from Corps of Engineers (CERA) and the sturdy Punjab lads that stole a march with two golds each.
But it was the sub-junior category that saw keen interest. With most of the States turning up, the organisers did have their hands full with over 368 rowers participating. And, barring the domination of Kerala in the girls' section and Tamil Nadu, to some extent in the boys, there was little competition.
Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and even Manipur came in and performed appreciably despite the fact that there was a dearth of coaches and infrastructure at these centres. Madhya Pradesh, or more precisely Bhopal, wherein the next edition of the championships is to take place, does not have a coach nor conditioned boats but nevertheless turned up with some impressive performances in the heats and repurchases, even though medals eluded them.
Orissa, relative newcomers to the sport, upstaged a few big names en route to a gold and silver.
Among the performers, Dittimol Varghese of Kerala stood out. This 13-year-old, participating in her very first nationals, claimed two medals — single scull in both the 500 metres and 250 metres. Along with Dittimol, Tamil Nadu's Nirup also shone, the lad winning three golds — 250 metre single scull, coxed fours and the 500 metres coxless pair (along with Hasan Khaleelib).
Karnataka, the host, did not have a good outing, as three silvers and a bronze is not exactly encouraging. But with a lot more young potentials taking to the sport thanks to the efforts of Catapult and some voluntary work done by the MEG coaches, good things are just around the corner.
Varied talents
N. Chaitra
Ten-year-old N. Chaitra took to rowing only 10 days ago thanks to coaxing from sister Manjula, who has won quite a few laurels for her State. And Chaitra is now fascinated by the sport. The Class VI student of Nagasena Vidyalaya has stars in her eyes and is confident of winning medals internationally. "Rowing is something I dream and believe in. And there is nothing that is going to stop me from achieving my goals," she says.
Fostering ambitions of becoming a doctor one day, Chitra insists that rowing will continue to be her first love. The girl possesses unimaginable strength for someone her age, and if fine-tuned in tactics, could indeed make a big splash at national and international events.
Maj. Sachin Gavhane
Maj. Sachin Gavhane is a sturdy armyman who has had stints in both rowing and boxing. He gave his best in boxing by training and encouraging Boys Company lads to take to that sport. Now he is developing the rowing teams of the Madras Sappers.
"Concentrated efforts are needed to put India on the rowing map at international level. But the Army and Rowing Federation of India are giving their best. Some of the lads with MEG lsuch as Thangaraj and Rajkumar are good potentials, and our peak form can be reached only by next March, during the Senior Nationals."
AVINASH NAIR
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
|
