Hyderabad, Feb 15 (UNI)

The 31st Open National Rowing championships will be held at the Hussain Sagar Lake here from tomorrow. About 350 of the country’s top national and international rowers comprising men and women,representing 19 Associations will vie for honours in the five-day championship, which will begin with the 2,000 metres events tomorrow.

President of Rowing Federation of India (RFI), C P Singh Deo told reporters here today that in a first-of-its-kind, the event is being organised under the newly invented technical traffic system. The same has been given a professional touch by the sport’s chief national coach,Dronacharya awardee Ismail Baig.This is aimed at helping the rowers to get a taste of the prevailing International standards, Mr Deo said. He said the climatic conditions and breeze across the Lake were ideal for potential Olympians to sail into international reckoning.

The RFI President said that 2,000 metres events will be held on Thursday and Friday while the 500-metre sprint event will be held on February 18 and 19. The event is, however, losing out on the cream of talent because the ever formidable Punjab and All India University teams have stayed away from the championship. Mr Singh Deo said that Punjab will be missed because some of the finest contemporary talent comes from the state, which is in the midst of Assembly elections.

The top five finishers in each category will participate in the London Olympic qualifiers in Korea in April. Incidentally, in the 14th Asian Rowing Championship, held at Hwacheon in South Korea, India had won a gold and bronze in addition to two silver medals.

source: http://www.DeepikaGlobal.com / Sports News / UNI / Hyderabad, February 15th, 2012