Amrita Minj secured the gold medal in the CW 1X event at the 1st Beach Sprint National Rowing Championship held in Goa from February 24 to 28, delivering a landmark national-level victory for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The championship, organised by the Rowing and Sculling Association De Goa on behalf of the Rowing Federation of India, brought together leading rowing athletes from across the country. Competing in the newly introduced beach sprint format, Amrita Minj outperformed the field to claim the top podium position in her category.
The event marked the first time the Beach Sprint National Rowing Championship was conducted in India, signalling the formal introduction of the fast-growing coastal sprint format into the national competitive calendar. The CW 1X category featured individual competition, demanding speed, endurance and technical precision under high-intensity race conditions.
Amrita Minj’s victory assumes significance against the backdrop of limited rowing infrastructure and the absence of advanced training facilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. She competed against athletes trained in established centres equipped with professional coaching systems and specialised rowing environments. Despite these disparities, she maintained competitive form and secured the gold medal.
The Rowing and Sculling Association De Goa hosted the championship under the aegis of the Rowing Federation of India, ensuring participation from state and Union Territory associations nationwide. The competition showcased emerging talent in the beach sprint discipline, which differs from traditional rowing formats by combining coastal sprinting and rapid boat launches in dynamic conditions.
G. Bhasker, President of the Andaman and Nicobar Rowing Association, congratulated Amrita Minj on her achievement. He also extended appreciation to other rowers from the Islands who participated in various events at the championship and represented the Union Territory.
Bhasker stated that the gold medal underscores the sporting potential within the Islands and highlighted the need to strengthen rowing infrastructure and develop systematic training facilities locally. He emphasised that improved facilities would enable athletes from the region to compete more effectively at national and international platforms.
The championship in Goa served as a national stage for the emerging beach sprint discipline, and Amrita Minj’s performance placed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the winners’ list in its inaugural edition. Her gold medal adds to the Union Territory’s sporting achievements and signals competitive capability despite infrastructural constraints.
With the beach sprint format gaining traction globally, the successful participation and podium finish by an athlete from the Islands marks a significant entry into a new competitive rowing category at the national level.
