Co-incidentally the day he landed, Bajrang Lal Takhar won India’s first-ever rowing gold at the Asian Games. “See I’m already showing results,” he winks.
Why would a legend like Steve Redgrave start a rowing academy in India, which is still a backwater in the sport? “It’s simple. No one ever asked me to start an academy,” says Redgrave.
The rowing legend has been in the country since last week to ink an MoU with Lavasa Corporation for an academy. Co-incidentally the day he landed, Bajrang Lal Takhar won India’s first-ever rowing gold at the Asian Games. “See I’m already showing results,” he winks.
On a serious note he lauds India’s performance in Guangzhou. “Any kind of a medal in any sport is a huge achievement. Indian rowers have done well at the Asian Games. The single sculler (Bajrang Lal), who won gold, might be a good prospect for the 2012 Olympics if he is groomed properly. And same is the case with other rowers,” Redgrave says.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist admits that he was a bit circumspect when IMG, the company who manages him, spoke to him about this project. “My first reaction was ‘India, I’m not sure about that’,” says Redgrave.
But his visit last December changed his mindset. “As soon as I saw the lake, I fell in love with it. Rowers always relate water to whether it is rowable. I was so impressed by the 20km of lake. It’s very narrow, so there are less chances of wind causing a problem. It was a perfect site to start an academy,” Redgrave says.
One thing Redgrave wants to change is the Army’s dominance in the sport. “As you can see, most of India’s medals were won by the oarsmen from the Army. They have dominated the sports in the country for years. What we will try to achieve, is to spread the sports to the communities. At Lavasa, there will be an opportunity to attract young kids, who are studying in various schools across the township, to the sport.”
How does he plan to reach out to the masses, which is super luxury in terms on Indian standards? “We’re looking into scholarships for bright prospects, maybe with the help of the national federation. The next time I’m in the country, I will be meeting its officials on how they could help each other.”
Time will tell whether it’s a dawn of a new era for Indian rowers.
For the time being, it’s time to rejoice over the fact that one of the truly greats will assist the Indians in realising their dreams.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}