Young rowers from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands delivered a strong performance at the 45th Junior National Rowing Championship and the 8th Inter-State Challenger National Rowing Championship, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, from November 26 to 30, bringing national recognition to the Union Territory.
Competing against athletes from across the country, the island contingent secured two podium finishes in Challenger category events. B. Haritha and B. Haripriya won the silver medal in the CW2X Challenger Women’s Double Scull event, displaying consistent pace, teamwork and endurance throughout the race. Their finish placed them among the top emerging rowing pairs at the national level.
The medal run continued with Sneha Toppo and P. Alagammal clinching the bronze medal in the CW2– Challenger Women’s Pair category. The duo demonstrated resilience and technical control, holding their own in a competitive field to secure a podium spot.
The achievements have been hailed as a significant milestone for rowing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Andaman & Nicobar Rowing Association (ANRA) noted that these results underline the steady progress made by island athletes in recent years, despite geographical and logistical challenges associated with training and exposure.
ANRA President G. Bhasker, along with committee members and coaches, congratulated all four rowers for their performances at the national championship. He said the medals reflect the dedication of the athletes and the systematic efforts being made to strengthen rowing at the grassroots level in the Islands.
Officials associated with the Association said that such performances are expected to motivate more young sportspersons in the Islands to take up rowing and aspire to compete at national platforms. The success of the women rowers, in particular, was described as encouraging for the future of women’s sports in the region.
With these podium finishes, the Andaman and Nicobar contingent has further cemented its presence in national rowing competitions, signaling growing potential and ambition within the island sporting community.
