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Journalism of Courage
Famished for the big stage,Indian rower Swarn Singh Virk is having the time of his life,with his wide eyes picking up minute details of the big hunks of rowing. Hes not one of them in size or stature. But hungry for a chance to go up against them at a stage nothing less than Olympics,is driving Virk to give it his all.
The 23-year-old finished his repechage with a comfortable two boat length margin,topping the five-scullers race,and taking immense confidence from that despite his timing not being as great as on Day 1.
Here is a boy who hasnt had to battle the extraneous worries like age-old equipment or lack of support. Not that rowing is teeming with funds,but since 2010 when Bajrang Lal Takhar won the Asiad gold boats have been decent,no frills,just basically in good shape,shipped from abroad. Training too has picked up,though it remains at least a decade behind the top rowing nations.
I dont like complaining. Rowing takes too much energy to start cribbing. Im lucky to get a lot of equipment that my seniors didnt. Now its my job to perform, says the sprightly young man. Boats this time were hired locally,and Swarn is enjoying Etons unique posh public school hospitality,where dorms dont mean dirty dungeons.
Its different from living in the Games village,but I like this, he says,keen on catching up with hockey and tennis players. Ill walk up to them and introduce myself, he simply says.
Biggest test
Swarns biggest test comes in the quarters where he will definitely be one of the least accomplished of scullers. Its about few chances. I wont get this again soon,so I dont want to mess up by being nervous, says the facile plodder,who is happily clocking 25-28 strokes per minute and plans to go all out unleashing his power in the knockouts quarters on Tuesday.
