In a display of determination and grit, <keyword id="20425572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Balraj-Panwar" source="keywords">Balraj Panwar</keyword>, <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s sole representative in rowing at the <keyword id="20201477" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paris-2024-Olympics" source="keywords">Paris 2024 Olympics</keyword>, secured his place in Final D of the <keyword id="22617528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mens-singles-sculls" source="keywords">men's singles sculls</keyword> event. Competing in the semi-final C/D on Wednesday, Panwar clocked a time of 7:04.97, finishing sixth.<br /><br />Panwar, a 25-year-old member of the Indian army has been a stand out <keyword id="20102132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="athlete" source="keywords">athlete</keyword>, carrying the hopes of his nation on his shoulders. Despite the challenging conditions and stiff competition, Panwar's performance in the semi-final C/D reflects his relentless effort and commitment to his sport. The Final D schedule for Friday, August 2, at 1:48 PM IST, is a classification race that determines rankings from 19th to 24th place, where no medals will be awarded.<br /><br />Panwar finished sixth in the men's singles sculls semi-final C/D with a time of 7:04.97. His journey to the Paris Olympics has been one of perseverance and dedication. Training rigorously to compete at the highest level, his participation alone marks a significant achievement. <br /><br />His determination and hard work exemplify the spirit of an athlete who strives for excellence, regardless of the outcome. In <keyword id="20012442" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="badminton" source="keywords">badminton</keyword>, ace India shuttler <keyword id="20123154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lakshya-Sen" source="keywords">Lakshya Sen</keyword> defeated Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-18, 21-12 in the badminton men's singles Group L match and secured a place in the pre-quarters at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Wednesday.<br /><br />Lakshya clinched a win over Christie in 50 minutes at the La Chapelle Arena on Wednesday. The Indian shuttler dominated the Indonesian and won the first game 8-2. Lakshya capitalised in the second to close out the match against Jonatan Christie.<br /><br />Sen also topped the men's singles Group L and could face HS Prannoy in the upcoming Round of 16 match. The pre-quarterfinals will start on Thursday. In shooting, Indian shooter <keyword id="20166561" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swapnil-kusale" source="keywords">Swapnil Kusale</keyword> finished seventh in the qualification round of men's 50m 3P to qualify for the final at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Wednesday.<br /><br />Indian shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Swapnil Kusale both appeared in the men's 50m 3P qualification round at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On his Olympic debut, Kusale finished seventh with a score of 590-38x. While, Tomar ranked 11th with a total of 589-33x. Only the top eight shooters have qualified for the final round, and Tomar failed to make his place in the final round. <br /><br />

Balraj Panwar advances to Final D at Paris 2024 Olympics

The <keyword id="22949872" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paralympics-2024" source="keywords">Paralympics 2024</keyword> kicked off in Paris on Thursday, and <keyword id="22976112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indias-para-shuttlers" source="keywords">India’s para-shuttlers</keyword> were in the spotlight on Day 1. T Murugesan and K Nitesh started strong, winning their mixed doubles match against S Yathiraj and P Kohli with scores of 21-14 and 21-17. Unfortunately, Mandeep Kaur didn’t win her match.<br />Let us look at the <keyword id="22976111" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Day-1-highlights" source="keywords">Day 1 highlights</keyword> and the schedule for Day 3 and 4 of the Paralympics 2024.<br /><br /><h2><keyword id="20121984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sheetal-Devi" source="keywords">Sheetal Devi</keyword> Shines With Personal Best Score</h2>Sheetal Devi finished second in the women's individual compound open ranking round with an exceptional performance at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday. Sheetal Devi, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, skillfully shoots using her legs due to being born without arms.She achieved an impressive score of 703 out of 720, placing her second behind Turkey's Oznur Girdi Cure, who set a world record with 704 points in the ranking round. <br />Meanwhile, Indian para-shuttlers, including <keyword id="22976113" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tokyo-silver-medallist-Suhas-Yathiraj" source="keywords">Tokyo silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj</keyword>, have begun the Paris Paralympics with a strong performance.<br /><br /><h2>Schedule for August 30, Friday (Day 3)</h2><h2><keyword id="22976114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Para-Taekwondo" source="keywords">Para-Taekwondo</keyword></h2>Women’s K4447kg gold medal contest 12:04 am<br /><br /><h2>Para-Badminton</h2>Women’s singles group stage 12:00 pm onwards<br /><br />Men’s singles group stage 12:00 pm onwards<br /><br />Mixed doubles group stage 7:30 pm onwards<br /><br /> <h2><keyword id="22976115" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Para-Archery" source="keywords">Para Archery</keyword></h2>Women’s individual compound open round of 32 12:30 pm onwards<br /><br />Men’s individual compound open round of 32 7:00 pm onwards<br /><br /><h2>Para Shooting</h2>Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 qualification 12:30 pm<br /><br />Men’s 10m air pistol SH1 qualification 2:30 pm<br /><br />Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final 3:15 pm<br /><br />Mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2 qualification 5:00 pm<br /><br />Men’s 10m air pistol SH1 final 5:30 pm<br /><br />Women’s 10m air pistol SH2 pre-event training 7:00 pm<br /><br />Mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2 final 7:45 pm<br /><br />Men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 pre-event training 8:30 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Athletics</h2>Women’s discus throw F55 final 1:30 pm<br /><br />Women’s 100m T35 final 4:39 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Table Tennis</h2>Men’s doubles quarterfinals 1:30 pm onwards<br /><br />Women’s doubles quarterfinals 1:30 pm onwards<br /><br />Mixed doubles quarterfinals 1:30 pm onwards<br /><br /><h2>Para Rowing</h2>Mixed doubles sculls PR3 heats 3:00 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Cycling</h2>Men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit qualifying 4:24 pm<br /><br />Men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit final bronze 7:11 pm<br /><br />Men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit final gold 7:19 pm<br /><br />Schedule for August 31, Saturday (Day 4)<br /><br /><h2>Para Athletics</h2>Men’s shot put F37 final 12:20 am<br /><br />Men’s javelin throw F57 final 10:30 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Shooting<br /></h2>Men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 qualification 1:00 pm<br /><br />Women’s 10m air pistol SH1 qualification 3:30 pm<br /><br />Men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final 3:45 pm<br /><br />Mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2 pre event training 5:30 pm<br /><br />Women’s 10m air pistol SH1 final 6:15 pm<br /><br />Mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 pre event training 7:00 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Cycling</h2>Women’s C13 500m time trial qualifying 1:30 pm<br /><br />Men’s C13 1000m time trial qualifying 1:49 pm<br /><br />Women’s C13 500m time trial final 5:05 pm<br /><br />Men’s C13 1000m time trial final 5:32 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Table Tennis</h2>Women’s doubles WD10 semi-finals 1:30 pm onwards<br /><br />Women’s doubles WD10 gold medal match 10:45 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Rowing</h2>Mixed doubles sculls PR3 repechages 2:40 pm<br /><br /><h2>Para Archery</h2>Women’s individual compound open round of 16 7:00 pm onwards<br /><br />Women’s individual compound open quarterfinals 9:16 pm onwards<br /><br />Women’s individual compound open semifinals 10:14 pm onwards<br /><br /><h2>Para-Badminton</h2>Mixed doubles semifinals 7:30 pm onwards<br /><br />

Paralympics 2024 Day 1 highlights and schedule for Day 3 and 4

As the <keyword id="20201477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-2024-Olympics" source="keywords">Paris 2024 Olympics</keyword> unfolds, <keyword id="20430758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-athletes" source="keywords">Indian athletes</keyword> are poised to shine on the global stage, promising thrilling performances and unforgettable moments. This week, from August 1 to August 6, India's sports enthusiasts have a packed schedule of must-watch events.<br /><br />Key highlights include the promising <keyword id="20241095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manu-Bhaker" source="keywords">Manu Bhaker</keyword> in the <keyword id="22628612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="25m-Pistol-event" source="keywords">25m Pistol event</keyword>, a high-stakes <keyword id="6362179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hockey" source="Orion">hockey</keyword> match between India and Belgium, and <keyword id="30621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="badminton" source="Orion">badminton</keyword> prodigy <keyword id="20123154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lakshya-Sen" source="keywords">Lakshya Sen</keyword>'s crucial games. With each athlete carrying the hopes of a nation, the coming days are set to showcase the spirit and talent of Indian sports, making it a week not to be missed.<br /><h2>Thursday, August 1</h2><h3>11:30 AM: Men’s 20km Race Walk</h3>Indian athletes competing: Vikash Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Akshdeep Singh<br /><h3>12:30 PM: Golf Men’s Individual Stroke Play Round 1</h3>Indian athletes competing: Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shubhankar Sharma<br /><h3>1:00 PM: Shooting (Kusale wins Bronze medal)</h3>50 Rifle 3 Positions Men’s Final with Swapnil Kusale<br /><h3>1:20 PM: Women’s 20km Race Walk</h3>Indian athletes competing: Priyanka<br /><h3>1:30 PM: Hockey</h3>Men’s Pool B with India v Belgium<br /><h3>2:30 PM: Boxing</h3>Women’s 50kg Preliminaries Round of 16 with Zareen Nikhat vs China’s Wu Yu<br /><h3>1:00 PM: Men’s Individual Archery</h3>1/32 Elimination Round with Pravin Ramesh Jadhav vs China’s Kao Wenchao<br /><h3>3:30 PM: Shooting</h3>50m Rifle 3 Positions Women’s Qualification with Sift Kaur Samra and Anjum Moudgil<br /><h3>3:45 PM: Sailing Men’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Vishnu Saravanan<br /><h3>4:30 PM: Badminton</h3><ul><li>Men’s Doubles Quarterfinal with Shetty/Rankireddy vs Malaysia’s Chia/Soh</li><li>Men’s Singles Round of 16 with H S Prannoy and Lakshya Sen</li></ul><h3>7:05 PM: Sailing Women’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Nethra Kumanan<br /><h3>10:00 PM: Badminton</h3>Women’s Singles with V Sindhu Pusarla vs China’s HE Bing Jiao<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112191180" title="Swapnil Kusale wins Bronze in men&amp;#39;s 50m rifle 3 positions event, India’s third medal at Paris Olympics 2024" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Friday, August 2<br /></h2><h3>12:30 PM: Golf</h3>Men’s Individual Stroke Play Round 2 with Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar<br /><h3>12:30 PM: Shooting</h3>25m Pistol Women’s Qualification Precision with Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker<br /><h3>1:30 PM: Shooting</h3>Day 1 of Skeet Men’s Qualifications with Anant Jeet Singh Naruka<br /><h3>1:00 PM: Mixed Team Archery</h3>⅛ Elimination Round with India v Indonesia<br /><h3>1:00 PM: Rowing</h3>Men’s Single Sculls Final D with Balraj Panwar<br /><h3>1:30 PM: Judo</h3>Champ-de-Mars Arena Mat 1 with Tulikaa Maan vs Cuba’s Idalys Ortiz<br /><h3>3:45 PM: Sailing Women’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Nehtra Kumanan<br /><h3>4:45 PM: Hockey</h3>Men’s Pool B with India v Australia<br /><h3>7:05 PM: Sailing Men’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Vishnu Saravanan<br /><h3>9:40 PM: Women’s 5km</h3>Round 1 with Ankita and Parul Chaudhary<br /><h3>11:40 PM: Men’s Shot Put Qualification</h3>Indian athletes competing: Tajinderpal Singh Toor<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112164992" title="India&amp;#39;s Lakshya Sen stuns world number 3 to secure pre-quarterfinal spot in men&amp;#39;s badminton at Paris Olympics" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Saturday, August 3</h2><h3>12:30 PM: Shooting</h3>Day 1 of Skeet Women’s Qualifications with Raiza Dhillon and Maheshwari Chauhan<br /><h3>1:00 PM: Archery</h3>Women’s Individual ⅛ Elimination Rounds with Deepika Kumari vs Germany’s Michelle Kroppen and Bhajan Kaur vs Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa<br /><h3>3:45 PM: Sailing Men’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Vishnu Saravanan<br /><h3>5:55 PM: Sailing Women’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Nethra Kumanan<br /><h3>12:02 AM: Boxing</h3>Men’s 71kg Quarterfinals with Nishant Dev vs Mexico’s Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112102370" title="Who is Manu Bhaker, the first Indian woman to win a Bronze Medal in Shooting at the Olympics?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Sunday, August 4</h2><h3>12:30 PM: Shooting</h3>Stage 1 of 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men’s Qualification with Vijayveer Sidhu<br /><h3>3:02 PM: Boxing</h3>Women’s 75kg Quarterfinals with Lovlina Borgohain vs China’s Li Qian<br /><h3>3:35 PM: Sailing Men’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Vishnu Saravanan<br /><h3>6:05 PM: Sailing Women’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Nethra Kumanan<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112168919" title="Ticket collector like Dhoni, son of female sarpanch makes rare Olympic final" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Monday, August 5</h2><h3>1:30 PM: Table Tennis</h3>Women’s Team Round of 16 with India v Romania<br /><h3>3:45 PM: Sailing Women’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Nethra Kumanan<br /><h3>6:10 PM: Sailing Men’s Dinghy</h3>Indian athletes competing: Vishnu Saravanan<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112137862" title="&amp;quot;Took me long to overcome&amp;quot;: History-maker Bhaker on her Tokyo Olympics 2020 gun malfunction" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Tuesday, August 6</h2><h3>1:30 PM: Table Tennis</h3>Men’s Team Round of 16 with India v China<br />

25m pistol with Manu Bhaker, Lakshya Sen pre-quarterfinals: Don't miss these exciting Indian Olympics games from Aug 1-6!

<keyword id="20425572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Balraj-Panwar" source="keywords">Balraj Panwar</keyword> finished fifth in the quarterfinals in men’s single Sculls. He clocked his personal-best timing of 7:05.10 but fell short by close to 11 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals. He will now further compete for the 13-24th place.<br /><br />Despite the disappointment on Tuesday, Balraj’s feat was nothing short of a miracle. Just four years ago when the world gathered at Tokyo for the <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword>, he barely knew the sport and wouldn’t have even dreamt of participating in the next Olympics in Paris.<br /><br /><h2>Humble Beginnings</h2>Born in Kaimla village in <keyword id="19904807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haryana" source="keywords">Haryana</keyword>’s Karnal district, Balraj Panwar's journey to the <keyword id="20006192" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paris-Olympics" source="keywords">Paris Olympics</keyword> is a serendipitous turn of events and a testament to his resilience. He came from humble beginnings and faced significant challenges early in life, including the loss of his father. <br /><br />To support his family, he sought a post in the <keyword id="19908736" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Army" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Army">Indian Army</keyword>, unaware that this decision would lead him to become India's sole representative in <keyword id="20419957" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rowing" source="keywords">rowing</keyword> at the 2024 Paris Olympics.<br /><br />Balraj's introduction to rowing came as late as in 2020 when a coach noticed his six-foot frame and suggested he try the sport. His dedication and natural talent quickly became evident, and by the end of the year, he moved to the Army Rowing Node for better training facilities.<br /><br /><h2>Rise to Prominence</h2>Despite a slow start in domestic competitions, Balraj's breakthrough came in 2023 when he won gold at the national championships. This victory secured his spot in the camp for the Asian Games, where he narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth. This performance, however, gave him the self-belief needed to succeed on larger stages.<br /><br />In May 2023, Balraj secured his place at the Paris Olympics by winning bronze at the Asian and Oceanian Rowing Olympic Qualification Regatta in South Korea. <br /><br /><h2>Eyes on the finish line</h2>Balraj's preparations for the Olympics had been meticulous. He was coached by Bajrang Lal Takhar, who won India's first individual rowing Gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games held in <keyword id="20063751" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Guangzhou" source="keywords">Guangzhou</keyword>. His target for the Paris Olympics was clear: to clock a personal best. And he did just that!<br /><br />Despite not advancing further, his journey from a small village in Haryana to competing at the Paris Olympics is a remarkable achievement. Nicknamed "<keyword id="19899524" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MS-Dhoni" source="keywords">MS Dhoni</keyword> of Indian rowing" on the Olympics website, Balraj's story is one of relentless effort. As he readies for his next challenge, he carries the hopes of a nation and the promise of a bright future in Indian rowing.<br /><br />Also Read: <br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/how-5g-technology-is-helping-curb-carbon-emissions-and-waste-at-the-paris-games/amp_articleshow/112115743.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">How 5G technology is helping curb carbon emissions and waste at the Paris Games</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/article/bite-sized-tradition-why-do-olympic-winners-bite-their-medals/articleshow/112097005.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bite-sized tradition: Why do Olympic winners bite their medals?</a><br />

Paris Olympics 2024: Meet Haryana’s Balraj Panwar, who mastered the sport in just four years, only to miss semis by 11 seconds

<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57a64995db5ce954008b5298-1024/serbian rowers.jpg" alt="serbian rowers" data-mce-source="NBC Olympics" data-link="http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/oh-no-serbia-mens-pair-capsizes" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/oh-no-serbia-mens-pair-capsizes">NBC Olympics</a></span></p><p class="caption">Milos Vasic and Nenad Benik try to flip their boat over after capsizing.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Serbian rowers Milos Vasic and Nenad Benik got a taste of the Rio water on the first day of the Olympic regatta Saturday.</span></p><p><span>In an unusual moment, the duo's boat capsized, tossing them into the water. <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/951228a25b4642108c0b1ee7c85ace22">According to the Associated Press</a>, it's the first time a boat has capsized in the Olympics since Athens in 2004.</span></p><p><span>While rowers usually have to cross the finish line to complete the race, officials gave the Serbian team an exemption, pulling them into their boat and allowing them to compete in the next round on Sunday, according to AP.</span></p><p><span>After the race, both men and women rowers blasted the racing conditions, which seem to have caused Vasic and Benik to capsize. </span><span>Kim Brennan, the women's single scull world champion, said, "I was pretty close to sinking out there... Normally this would have been deemed unrowable."</span></p><p><span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/06/serbia-rowers-sunk-capsize-rio-olympics">According to The Guardian</a>, Irish sculler Sanita Puspure called the conditions "horrific," saying:</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>"It was like sailing, surfing, everything all in one and a bit of rowing in the end. I was just thrown around with the wind. I couldn't get the blades in at the same time. At one stage I was blown parallel to the racing lane so I had to tack with one arm into the lane, which is probably unseen before - a person doing one-arm rowing during a race. I was pretty helpless."</span></p><p><span>Egyptian sculler Nadia Negm told the Guardian, "Thank God I didn't go under. It's the toughest conditions I have ever rowed in. It was really intense. I wish the rest of the racers good luck - if you are rowing this week you better know how to swim."</span></p><p><span>After the race, Matt Smith, the executive director of rowing's governing body, explained that they didn't postpone the race on Saturday because conditions are supposed to get worse in the coming days. He said, if necessary, because it's a small regatta, they can make up a day of missed events. However, should they have to cancel multiple days, he warned that they may have to drop events.</span></p><p><span>While the conditions don't look especially bad to the naked eye, the water does appear choppy, and the light boats Olympic rowers use aren't difficult to knock over:</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57a64a7fce38f233008b52c3-1231/serbian rowing team.jpg" alt="serbian rowing team" data-mce-source="Andre Penner/AP" /><p class="source"><span>Andre Penner/AP</span></p><p class="caption">Officials help the Serbian rowing team flip their boat over.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>British single sculler Alan Campbell had a simple, but funny message going forward. According to AP, Campbell pointed to the Christ the Redeemer statue and said, "He needs to spread his arms a bit more to protect us."</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/draftkings-fanduel-daily-fantasy-sports-now-legal-in-new-york-2016-8">Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs law making DraftKings, FanDuel, and daily fantasy sports legal in New York</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="tnYXgyeTqFq9Ou_7rVLn5hmK0Gk3HbFd" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'tnYXgyeTqFq9Ou_7rVLn5hmK0Gk3HbFd',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Olympic rowers blasted the 'horrific' and 'unrowable' conditions after the Serbian boat capsized

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/52634623.cms" />For Dattu Baban Bhokanal, the lone Indian rower to qualify for 2016 <keyword id="1151997" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rio-Olympics">Rio Olympics</keyword>, overcoming his fear of water emerged as the best thing ever for him.<br />
 <br />
The 24-year-old’s story is nothing less than inspiring and exudes the best example of grit and determination.<br />
 <br />
Indian rower Bhokanal qualified for Rio Olympics in the men’s singles sculls category as he finished second in the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta in South Korea.<br />
 <br />
Bhokanal, who comes from a tiny village in Maharashtra Talegaon where water is considered equivalent to gold, never thought he would end up rowing as he was scared of water.<br />
 <br />
“I never thought water could be used for sports as well. In our village, water is very scarce. I used to think if I jump into the water, I will drown. There was a huge phobia regarding water,” said Bhokanal.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Early life</strong><br />
 <br />
Coming from a drought-hit village and achieving such heights, Bhokanal’s story is inspiring.<br />
 <br />
He is the eldest to his two brothers and usually used to spend his early days in agricultural field with his father.<br />
<br />
“I used to go to school and then mostly spend my days in the fields, do farming with my father, ride tractor, bike. I was never interested in studies and always wanted to do business,” said Bhokanal.<br />
 <br />
But his destiny took a sharp turn when his father died. He had to look after his family and it is then he decided to join the army.<br />
<br />
“I moved to Pune to join the army and earn for my family. Here I was introduced to rowing,” said Bhokanal.<br />
<br />
<strong>Army life</strong><br />
 <br />
“I had never seen so much water in my life. My coach at the army was adamant that I take up rowing. I had water phobia but I had to do it. So, I just hit the boat. It did topple a number of times but my fear of drowning went away,” said 6 feet 4 inch tall Bhokanal.<br />
 <br />
Bhokanal’s coach Ismail Baig, Dronacharya and chief national rowing coach, worked on him and the results are evident.<br />
 <br />
 <strong>Qualifying for Olympics</strong><br />
 <br />
Bhokanal clocked 7 minutes 07.49 second in the two kilometre course. However, he could not celebrate his sweet success with his mother, who was then in coma.<br />
 <br />
“When I qualified for Olympics, my mother was in hospital and could not recognise any one. But now she’s fine and doing better,” said Bhokanal.<br />
 <br />
The Indian rower will be soon going to the US for his training and will be coached by Paul Mokha.<br />
 <br />
 “To get a medal in Olympics, I have to clock around 6 minutes 36 seconds and I am working hard towards it,” said Bhokanal.<br />
 <br />
 Speaking about pressure, Bhokanal said he is just focussing on his timing and practice sessions.<br />
 <br />
 “There is little bit of pressure but I am just focussed on rowing only. I know there are lot of expectations from me as I am representing India but my mind is free and I just have to perform well,” said Bhokanal, whose never give up attitude has brought him to this level.<br />
<br />
(Image: Twitter)<br />


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Balraj Panwar advances to Final D at Paris 2024 Olympics

ANI

Paralympics 2024 Day 1 highlights and schedule for Day 3 and 4

Kapil Yadav

25m pistol with Manu Bhaker, Lakshya Sen pre-quarterfinals: Don't miss these exciting Indian Olympics games from Aug 1-6!

BI India Bureau

Paris Olympics 2024: Meet Haryana’s Balraj Panwar, who mastered the sport in just four years, only to miss semis by 11 seconds

Prerna Tyagi

Olympic rowers blasted the 'horrific' and 'unrowable' conditions after the Serbian boat capsized

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Meet Dattu Bhokanal, the lone Indian rower to qualify for Rio Olympics, who was once scared of water

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