The picturesque Sabarmati River, which flows through Ahmedabad, may soon become a hub for international rowing events in the country.
For the 36th National Games, which will formally begin in Gujarat on September 29 with the massive Opening Ceremony, a special course for the sport has been created out in the waters.
The rowing events, which will feature 14 titles or gold medals, will begin a day earlier on September 28.
Chief Technical Officer, also the Chief National Coach, Ismail Baig, has given the venue a big thumbs-up.
“I am pretty impressed with the venue and the course. It is easily the best in the country and is good enough to hold big international events,” he said, even as he oversaw the final touches being given to make it competition-ready.
“The Sabarmati course thanks to the National Games will change the rowing scenario in the country, even ushering in a new era. It could also become a very good training centre for our rowers and help in encouraging the sport in a big way,” Baig added.
Ismail Baig cannot wait for the action to begin in rowing.
“The water is very clean and smooth. India’s top rowers will love the course. We can hope to see some very exciting races,” he added.
Sabarmati Riverfront Venue Manager Joseph Martes acknowledged that there was a lot of excitement ahead of the event, the first major water sports competition in the State, that too right in the middle of the city.
“We have Rowing, Canoeing and Kayaking at this venue. It will give a huge boost to water sports in the State. We are expecting big crowds,” he said.
Rowing competitions will be held in single, double and quadruple sculls, lightweight double scull, the eight and coxless pair in rowing.
With a number of international rowers in their ranks, Services are firm favourites. Olympians like Arvind Singh and Arjunlal Jat, who finished 11th in the Tokyo Olympics, will be among the top draws.
Joseph Martes said ,”Competitors will get a feel of the course a day before the competition begins on September 28. The finals will be held on October 2 and 3,”
The 36th edition of the National Games of India will be held in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar in Gujarat from October 10 , 2022.