PNN
Panaji (Goa) [India], March 6: Under the bright blue skies and golden shoreline of Vainguinim Beach, Dona Paula, Goa witnessed a historic moment in Indian sports as the 1st Senior Beach Sprint National Rowing Championship 2026 concluded with thrilling races, powerful performances, and Maharashtra emerging as the overall champions to lift the prestigious Padma Bhushan Manohar Parrikar Trophy.
The championship marked India's official entry into the Olympic-recognized coastal rowing format, transforming Goa's scenic coastline into a competitive arena where strength, speed, and sea strategy collided in spectacular fashion.
What unfolded over the championship days was more than just a sporting event -- it was the birth of a new era in Indian rowing.
A Historic First for Indian Coastal Rowing
Held under the aegis of the Rowing Federation of India, the championship was hosted by the Rowing & Sculling Association of Goa in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa, the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Goa, and supported by the Sports Authority of India. The event was powered by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, further strengthening Goa's growing reputation as a destination for sports tourism and marine sports excellence.
At the center of this historic initiative was Tapan Acharya, President of the Rowing & Sculling Association of Goa. Through strategic planning and months of groundwork, Acharya ensured that Goa did not merely host a championship -- it established a national benchmark for coastal rowing in India.
Under his leadership, the vision to introduce Olympic-format Beach Sprint Rowing in India became a reality, positioning Goa as a future hub for coastal and marine sporting disciplines.
Strong Government and Institutional Support
The championship witnessed strong backing from the state leadership and sporting authorities.
Dr Pramod Sawant, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, although unable to attend due to pre-budget commitments, remained in constant touch with the organising committee to ensure the smooth conduct of the championship.
Dr Ramesh Tawadkar, Hon'ble Minister for Sports, personally visited the venue, interacted with athletes and officials of the Rowing Federation of India, and praised the efforts behind the historic event -- particularly appreciating the leadership of Tapan Acharya for bringing the national championship to Goa.
A key administrative force behind the event was Dr Ajay Gaude, Director of the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs and holding additional charge as Executive Director of the Sports Authority of Goa. Known for his dynamic and hands-on leadership, Dr Gaude ensured coordination between departments and provided continuous support to the organisers.
The championship also drew a strong national sporting presence. Amitabh Sharma, Executive Committee Member of the Indian Olympic Association, President of the Ice Skating Association of India, Vice President of Asian Ice Skating, and Chief de Mission for the Winter Olympics Milan 2026, played a pivotal mentoring role. Along with Smt Rajlaxmi Deo, Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association, Sharma had originally envisioned the idea of holding a Coastal Rowing Championship in Goa.
He graced the closing ceremony as Chief Guest, while Dr Ajay Gaude presided over the opening ceremony, giving the event both national credibility and international relevance.
The Organising Team Behind the Success
The flawless execution of the championship was driven by a dedicated local organising team:
* Rohit Khandekar - Secretary
* Rudr Ghotge - Joint Secretary (Organising)
* Vinit Kundaikar - Treasurer
Working under the leadership of President Tapan Acharya, the team demonstrated how structured planning and collaboration between sports bodies and government institutions can deliver an event of national significance.
Participation from Across the Country
The championship brought together athletes from 19 rowing associations and defence units across India, including teams from:
Services, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar, Indian Navy, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Army, Rajasthan, Telangana, Assam, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, West Bengal and Meghalaya.
The competition featured five medal events, attracting some of the country's most accomplished rowers and defence athletes.
Medal Highlights that Electrified the Coastline
The Beach Sprint format delivered thrilling action as rowers sprinted from the sand, launched boats into the sea, navigated buoy turns, and raced back to the beach in dramatic finishes.
CM2X - Men Double Sculls
Indian Navy's Prabhakar Singh Rajawat and Robin Sikander Singh won Gold with a time of 02:28.0, while Services secured Silver and Army took Bronze.
CW1X - Women Single Sculls
Amrita Minj from Andaman & Nicobar Islands captured Gold (03:17.8). Punjab's Amandeep Kaur won Silver and Telangana's Gurugubelli Geetanjali claimed Bronze.
CW2X - Women Double Sculls
Maharashtra's Shivrani Kateria and Arushi Barar powered to Gold (03:00.0). Tamil Nadu finished with Silver while Karnataka secured Bronze.
CM1X - Men Single Sculls
Services rower Ravi clinched Gold (02:57.6). Maharashtra's Rushikesh Shelke earned Silver while Rajasthan's Dinesh Kumar took Bronze.
CMIX 2X - Mixed Double Sculls
Karnataka's E Ekshith Sai and Manasa S M stormed to Gold (02:46.4). Haryana secured Silver and Punjab completed the podium with Bronze.
Maharashtra Lifts the Prestigious Padma Bhushan Manohar Parrikar Trophy
At the end of the championship, Maharashtra emerged as the overall champions, winning two medals including a gold, and lifted the coveted Padma Bhushan Manohar Parrikar Trophy, awarded to the top-performing association of the championship.
Their consistent performances across events ensured they edged ahead in the overall standings, reinforcing Maharashtra's strong presence in Indian rowing.
Technical Excellence and Fair Competition
The championship was conducted under the supervision of Ms. Smita Yadav, President of the Jury, ensuring adherence to national competition standards and fair play throughout the event.
Operational support from the Department of Information & Publicity, Reclevo, Digiket Solutions, and Drishti Marine helped maintain smooth logistics, safety, and media coordination.
Goa's Sporting Identity Enters a New Era
With its vast coastline, administrative support, and visionary sporting leadership, Goa has now firmly positioned itself as India's emerging Coastal Sports Capital.
The successful hosting of the first-ever Beach Sprint National Rowing Championship is widely seen as the beginning of India's preparation for international coastal rowing competitions and potential Olympic participation.
At the heart of this transformation stands Tapan Acharya, whose leadership helped convert an ambitious idea into a national milestone. Through his efforts and the collective support of government institutions and sporting bodies, Goa has proven that it is ready to host world-class marine sporting events.
As the final boats returned to shore and medals were awarded, the championship stood as a testament to what visionary leadership and collective effort can achieve. With the support of the Rowing Federation of India Executive Council, led by President Balaji Maradapa, Secretary General Subhashis Mukherjee, and Treasurer Chiranjit Phukan, the successful hosting of India's first Beach Sprint National Rowing Championship has laid a strong foundation for the future of coastal rowing in the country. With Maharashtra lifting the prestigious Padma Bhushan Manohar Parrikar Trophy and Goa proving its capability as a world-class coastal sporting destination, the event has not just celebrated champions -- it has charted a new course for India's rowing ambitions on the global stage.
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