Rowing championships starts Wednesday

Around 400 rowers from 17 States will take part in the National sub-junior rowing championships, starting at the Rabindra Sarobar in Kolkata from Wednesday.

Competitions will be held for Under-13 and Under-15 boys and girls in single and double sculls, pairs and fours.

Around 400 rowers from 17 States will take part in the National sub-junior rowing championships, starting at the Rabindra Sarobar here from Wednesday.

Competitions will be held for Under-13 and Under-15 boys and girls in single and double sculls, pairs and fours.

“The winners will take part in the National junior championship later this year and depending on their performance, the rowers can join the National junior camp which is underway in Hyderabad. The target is to prepare rowers for the Asian and World junior events in the coming months,” said Rowing Federation of India secretary Girish Phadnis at a press conference here on Tuesday.

Phadnis said considering the stipulation that there must be equal representation of both genders from a country in the Olympics, it was necessary to focus on the promotion of women’s rowing. “Hence, we have to give attention to grassroots in order to develop rowers for the future,” said Phadnis.

The four-day meet will also coincide with the Challenger Sprint National rowing championships, which will be open for rowers who have finished outside the medal bracket in the last National championship.