The controversy over last-minute changes to India’s rowing crew combinations at the Asian Games refuses to die down, with a few male rowers contemplating a complaint to the Sports Ministry after the Games. The Rowing Federation of India (RFI), meanwhile, has defended the reshuffle, saying the compressed competition schedule forced the changes.
As rowing competitions began on Wednesday, at least two rowers said some members of the team were considering making a representation to the Sports Ministry after returning to India. The controversy concerns the 17 male rowers and does not involve the five female rowers.
“Our combinations were changed in the last minute and that has affected our performances. Suddenly, you are putting a different rower to row just before the event starts, how do you adjust with that? The result can be anything, say in pairs or fours, where you need synchronisation and rhythm, etc,” one rower told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“Yes, we were helpless, we had to compete. But we were forced (to compete) in a way the coaches and the federation wanted. We plan to make a complaint about this to the sports ministry after the Games,” the player added.
RFI DEFENDS LAST-MINUTE ASIAN GAMES CHANGES
RFI president Balaji Maradapa said the matter had been resolved, while accusing an unnamed former coach of influencing the young rowers.
“Most of these players are young and one former coach who has been involved in rowing for more than 20 years is influencing them. I have told the players not to be influenced by a person sitting more than 10,000 kms away from here,” Maradapa said.
“The matter is resolved now. They competed today and will compete tomorrow also.”
Maradapa said the rowing schedule was reduced from four days to two because of weather disruptions caused by Typhoon Dujuan and earlier heavy rain damage at the venue. The competition, originally scheduled to begin on September 21, started on September 23.
“It’s now just two days and four sessions. One player can’t row in the morning, then in the evening and next day also,” he said.
He said the changes were decided at the managers’ meeting a day before competition began, with the team prioritising workload management. RFI also relied on the advice of Australian rowing expert Antony Patterson, who has worked in Japan for seven years.
ARVIND, BALRAJ AMONG ROWERS MOVED BETWEEN EVENTS
The reshuffle affected several established combinations. Arvind Singh, the 2022 Asian Games silver medallist, was moved from single sculls to quadruple sculls, while Balraj Panwar switched from quadruple sculls to single sculls.
Saurav Kumar and Vipul Satish, originally selected for the men’s pair, were replaced by Nitin Kumar and Jaswinder Singh. Saurav and Vipul were instead moved to the men’s four alongside Babu Lal Yadav and Yogesh Kumar.
Navdeep Singh and Kulwinder Singh were shifted from double sculls to quadruple sculls, joining Arvind and Jakar Khan. Reserve rowers Ajay Tyagi, Jasmail Singh and Rohit were also named for starts.
India won five rowing medals at the 2022 Asian Games — two silver and three bronze. On Wednesday, Indian rowers reached the Final A, or medal round, in four events but failed to make the medal rounds in three others.
With competition now underway, the rowers have turned their focus to performance. However, the proposed complaint to the Sports Ministry means the dispute over the last-minute crew changes could continue after India’s Asian Games campaign ends.
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