Indian rowers demonstrated remarkable comebacks, securing two bronze medals and bringing their total medal count to five in the Asian Games watersports events. The day commenced with the men’s fours team, comprising Jaswinder Singh, Bheem Singh, Punit Kumar, and Ashish Goliyan, narrowly missing out on a silver medal. Subsequently, the men’s quadruple sculls team, consisting of Satnam Singh, Parminder Singh, Jakar Khan, and Sukhmeet Singh, claimed third place on the podium with a time of 6:08.61 seconds. They finished behind Uzbekistan (6:04.64) and the gold medalists, China (6:02.65).
The quartet of quadruple skulls managed to improve their position from fourth to third during the final 500 meters of the 2000-meter race. Similarly, in the men’s four event, the team initially ranked fourth in the final 500 meters of the 2000-meter race but displayed superb coordination to secure third place with a time of 6:10.81 seconds, narrowly edged out by China (6:10.04).
Uzbekistan clinched the top spot on the podium with a time of 6:04.96. However, Indian rower Balraj Panwar narrowly missed out on his first Asian Games podium finish, coming in fourth in the men’s single sculls. He was among the top three at the 1500-meter mark but faltered in the final 500 meters, finishing fourth with a time of 7:08.79 seconds.
In the women’s eight event, the Indian oarswomen faced disappointment as they finished at the bottom of the five-team field with a time of 7:05.71 seconds. This performance was well behind China, who secured the gold medal with a time of 6:33.61 seconds. The Indian team, comprising Sonali Swain, Ritu Kaudi, Priya Devi Thangjam, Varsha Kattathara, Aswathi Padinjarayil, Mrunmayee Salgaonkar, Tendenthoi Devi Haobijam, Rukmani, and Geetanjali Gurugubelli, struggled to challenge their opponents. Even the fourth-placed Thailand team finished more than 15 seconds ahead of the Indian rowers.
With these results, Indian rowers have now earned two silver and three bronze medals in the Asian Games. This comes after India secured two silver and one bronze medal on the previous day.
