Asian Games 2026: Unrest in Indian rowing camp as last-minute crew changes leave athletes ‘disturbed’

File image: Balraj Panwar (AP/PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: There is unrest in the Indian rowing camp ahead of the opening of the Asian Games on Wednesday, with several rowers expressing displeasure over changes in crew combinations and last-minute entry for events.Some athletes claimed to have been moved from their original events, while back-up rowers were brought into first-team combinations following Monday’s team managers’ meeting. According to the rower, who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity, the development has left some members of the team “very concerned”.“Some of the rowers have not yet taken the food because they are in an agitated state of mind. They don’t know what to do,” a rower told PTI on Monday.An official monitoring developments in the rowing team also confirmed that some athletes were struggling with the changes.“It’s very sad, but it’s not rosy in the rowing team,” said the official.Asian Games full coverage | Schedule | Medal total

Rowers are upset about the last-minute changes

According to reports, 2022 Asian Games silver medalist Arvind Singh, who was originally scheduled to compete in the singles canoe, has been moved to the quadruple. Balraj Panwar, who was part of the four-stroke combination, will compete in the single sculls instead.Saurav Kumar and Vipul Satish, who were supposed to form the first men’s pair, are to be replaced by Nitin Kumar and Jaswinder Singh. Back-up rower Jasmail Singh is also expected to be included in the uncapped four.Navdeep Singh and Kulwinder Singh are expected to switch from double skull to four.A senior rowing official said 50 per cent of the crew could be replaced in the event of a medical emergency, while athletes questioned the extent of the changes made this time.The rowers’ frustration was still evident on Tuesday, even as they eventually returned to pre-competition training.“We are going by what our manager has told us. We will give our best when we enter the water, but they shouldn’t have done that,” one of the rowers told TOI on condition of anonymity.“It brought a lot of pressure and anxiety. I couldn’t sleep last night, I was very upset. The crew combination is set for six months or one year. We train for a long time, and when it changes one day before such a big competition, the athlete becomes mentally disturbed. The crew combination is important in rowing. Someone who is not in the quad (what quad) makes it to six months in one to six months?”

The management presents a shortened program

However, the management of rowing defends the changes with the fact that they were required by the shortened schedule of competitions after heavy rains.Antony Patterson, India’s Australian head coach, said the priority was to maximize India’s medal opportunities rather than maintain individual event combinations.“Given the shortened regatta schedule, as head coach I decided to focus on possible medals rather than the individual comfort of the athletes,” Patterson said Monday.Indian Rowing Federation president Balaji Maradapa also said the revised schedule made it difficult for athletes to compete in more events as originally planned.“Initially it was four plus one day of races. Now it is just two days and four races every day. How can you be doubled up,” Balaji said.The competition, which was originally scheduled to start on Monday, will now take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Balaji said all the participating teams were allowed to change their entries after the schedule was revised.

“We’ll do it for the country”

Despite their frustration, the rowers vowed to put the dispute aside once competition begins at the Nagaragawa regatta course.“But that’s okay, whatever happened is God’s will. Whatever event we enter, we will not give up until we die. Whatever athlete it is, he will give his life because this chance, this platform, is not something you get every day, but once in four years.”“But what happened was wrong,” said the oarsman.He also said the athletes were informed of the changes rather than consulted, adding that their position in the military made it difficult to openly challenge the decision.“We are under the army. We compete as a team. If there is any indiscipline, we will never be able to row again,” he said.However, the oarsman insisted that the squad would give it their all once on the water.“Ye Hindustan ki baat hai, Tirange ki baat hai. We have come here to achieve something big and we will,” he said. “We’re going to do it for the country. We’re not going home without a medal.”India’s rowing campaign begins on Wednesday and the team will be hoping to pull off a last-minute upset and translate their preparations into medals.