National Rowing academy in Chandigarh soon

Disclosing the federation’s plan for the academy, Col. (retd) Deo said the Sports Authority of India has promised Rs 5 corers for the academy to be set up at Sukhna Lake. Sukhna is the only lake in India that has world class rowing channel.

"Earlier, we had planned to have this academy at Banglore and then at Hyderabad but then finally we settled for Chandigarh as it has one of the best rowing channels in the continent", remarked Deo.

He added that the academy will be on five-acre land and will have state-of-the-art features such as a boat house with a capacity of at least 60 boats of all types, a gymnasium hall, besides rowing machines.

"The RFI will have a major say in the academy," Col. (retd) Deo replied when asked about the body which will look after the matters of the academy, adding that "the Sukhna rowing channel has now been converted into a five-lane channel which is as good as anywhere in the world."

Deo further revealed the federation, in a move to promote the sport, will open at least two rowing centres in the country, annually.

Meanwhile, teams from Hong Kong and Japan arrived for the Sixth Asian Junior Rowing Championship which starts on December 14.

DPR Korea opts out, Pakistan doubtful

THE rowing team from Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea today withdrew its participation from the Sixth Asian Junior Rowing Championship scheduled to be held at Sukhna Lake from December 14 to 17.

Confirming the team’s withdrawl from the championship, Tournament Director Gopal Ghosh said that the team gave no reason for their sudden decision to move out of the tourney. However, the South Korean team have confirmed their participation. The team from Thailand is also expected to arrive in the city for the championship soon.

The participation of rowing team from Pakistan too remains doubtful as the federation has not recieved any official confirmation from them. "It’s extremely difficult to talk to our counterparts in Pakistan as it takes a lot of time and patience to convey our messages to them and then wait for their reply", said CP Singh Deo, secretary of the Rowing Federation of India.

Meanwhile, the teams from Japan, China and Hong Kong arrived in the city today.