Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), April 13: Athletes from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands secured a podium finish at the 1st All India Indoor Rowing Championship 2026, with B. Haritha and B. Haripriya winning silver in the U-23 lightweight women’s pair category.
Representing the Andaman and Nicobar Rowing Association, the duo finished second at the national-level event held in Cuttack, Odisha, from April 8 to 11. Competing against participants from across the country, they delivered a strong performance marked by coordination, endurance and consistency.
Officials said the athletes demonstrated high levels of preparation and discipline throughout the competition, securing their place among the top performers in their category. Their result adds to the growing list of sporting achievements from the islands at national platforms.
President of the Andaman and Nicobar Rowing Association G. Bhasker congratulated the athletes on their achievement and acknowledged their commitment and effort. He said their success reflects the hard work invested in training and expressed confidence that it would encourage more youth from the islands to take up rowing.
The silver medal finish highlights the increasing presence of athletes from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in competitive rowing, a sport that continues to gain traction among emerging talents in the region. The performance also underscores the progress made by local sports bodies in preparing athletes for national competitions.
Officials noted that consistent participation and exposure to national-level events remain key to improving performance standards and creating opportunities for athletes from geographically remote regions.
The achievement by Haritha and Haripriya is being seen as a significant milestone for rowing in the islands, reinforcing the potential of local athletes to compete at higher levels.
