2 Indian Army men make history, win first ever gold in Rowing World Cup

India made history at the 2026 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland as Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh won the country’s first-ever gold medal at a World Rowing Cup event on Saturday.

In the men’s lightweight double sculls final, the Indian pair put in a commanding performance as they clocked 6:26.09 to finish ahead of Hong Kong (6:27.14) and the Netherlands (6:27.36) in one of the closest races of the opening medal round.

The result marks a watershed moment for Indian rowing, which has never before won a gold medal in the World Rowing Cup series – one of the sport’s most prestigious annual circuits and a key competition for supremacy at the World Rowing Championships.

The success was even more significant, was the profile of the athletes behind it.

Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh are both serving soldiers in the Indian Army and are part of the Indian contingent at Lucerne, which has been built almost entirely through the armed forces system. Of the 18-member team competing in the regatta, 17 athletes are from the Indian Army and one from the Indian Navy – a reflection of the military’s long-term investment in rowing infrastructure and athlete development.

ROWING: LAKSHAY AND UJJWAL MAKE HISTORY

The Indian duo entered the final against strong competition, including Hong Kong’s Lam San Tung and Chan Tik Lung, World Rowing Cup I winners earlier this season. But Lakshay and Ujjwal rowed with authority from the front and held their advantage under pressure to secure a breakthrough result.

Their victory also underlined the growing competitiveness of Indian rowing on the international stage, particularly in the non-Olympic and lightweight categories, where margins are often decided by rhythm and race management rather than outright strength.

Speaking to NDTV after the race, Colonel Ramakrishnan, Commanding Officer of the Army Rowing Unit, described the medal as a defining moment for the sport in the country.

“This is a historic achievement for Indian rowing. Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh have won India’s first ever gold medal at the Rowing World Cup, showing the immense potential of our athletes,” he said.

“Their achievement reflects years of hard work, discipline and world-class training at the Army Rowing Unit. This victory is a proud moment for the Indian Army and nation and we hope it inspires many more young athletes to strive for excellence in rowing and contribute to India’s Olympic aspirations.”

The medal came on the opening day of the final at Lucerne’s iconic Rotsee course, widely regarded as one of rowing’s premier events thanks to its calm water and Olympic-standard 2,000m six-lane course.

The three-day regatta ends on Sunday with the final of the Olympic class yet to come.

For Indian rowing, however, perhaps the biggest statement has already been made – a maiden World Cup rowing gold and a performance that could become a benchmark for the sport’s ambitions in the years to come.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

28 Jun 2026 14:41 IST