Sri Vijaya Puram, May 18: Two rowing athletes from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have secured a silver medal at the national-level ASMITA Women’s League Rowing Championship 2026, marking another significant sporting achievement for the Union Territory on the national stage.
Sneha Toppo and P. Alagammal, residential athletes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Sports Training Centre (STC) in Sri Vijaya Puram, won the silver medal in the LW2- event at the championship held at Raamgarh Taal in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
The championship was conducted from May 12 to 17 and witnessed participation from rowing teams representing different States and Union Territories from across the country.
Officials said the Andaman and Nicobar rowing team displayed strong teamwork, discipline and competitive performance throughout the event to secure a podium finish in the lightweight women’s category.
The achievement has been viewed as another milestone for the islands’ growing rowing ecosystem, which has increasingly produced athletes competing at national-level tournaments in recent years.
The Sports Authority of India’s training centre in Sri Vijaya Puram has been actively nurturing athletes in rowing and other sports disciplines through residential coaching and structured training programmes.
Officials associated with the programme said the medal reflects not only the athletes’ individual efforts but also the sustained coaching support and institutional backing extended to sportspersons from the islands.
The ASMITA Women’s League is part of a broader initiative aimed at promoting women’s participation in sports and creating competitive platforms for female athletes across multiple disciplines.
Sports administrators in the islands said the performance of Sneha Toppo and P. Alagammal would serve as encouragement for aspiring women athletes in the Union Territory, particularly in water sports disciplines where the islands possess natural geographical advantages.
Rowing has gradually emerged as one of the promising sports disciplines in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to the availability of extensive coastal and inland water bodies suitable for training and competition.
Officials said the silver medal victory also highlights the growing standard of training being imparted at the SAI STC Sri Vijaya Puram, where athletes undergo regular coaching, physical conditioning and technical preparation for national competitions.
The Andaman and Nicobar Rowing Association, which has been working alongside SAI to support athlete development, also congratulated the athletes for their performance at the championship.
Sports officials noted that achievements at national-level events help create visibility for athletes from geographically remote regions and contribute towards wider participation in competitive sports within the islands.
The success comes amid increasing emphasis on sports development in the Union Territory through training camps, infrastructure support and talent identification programmes aimed at nurturing young athletes in multiple disciplines.
Women athletes from the islands have in recent years shown growing participation in national events across disciplines such as rowing, athletics, martial arts and football, reflecting expanding opportunities and institutional support mechanisms.
Officials said continued exposure to national competitions remains crucial for athletes from the islands to gain competitive experience and improve performance standards.
The SAI STC Sri Vijaya Puram said it takes pride in the achievement and congratulated both athletes for bringing recognition to the islands through their performance.
Coaches and sports administrators also credited the athletes’ discipline, dedication and consistent training efforts for the success achieved at the championship.
The medal win is expected to boost morale among upcoming athletes training at sports centres across the islands and reinforce interest in rowing as a competitive sport among young sportspersons in the Union Territory.
