Indian rowers threaten strike after last-minute crew changes ahead of Asian Games

The rowers were informed that the team management had made several changes to the entries, with athletes moved between events and a reserve player brought into the team.

Updated : Sep 21, 2026 20:19 IST , NAGOYA - 4 MINS READ

REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: If the athletes follow through on the strike, it would be an unprecedented development before the start of the rowing events at the Asian Games on Sept. 23. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

Indian male rowers are considering going on strike and skipping Tuesday’s training session in protest against the team management’s decision to change crews just two days before their events at the Asian Games. If the athletes follow through, it would be an unprecedented development.

“We are very mentally hurt. We feel we are in no mindset to train,” a rower, who requested anonymity, told Sportstar.

The rowing events were originally scheduled to begin on September 20 but were postponed to the 23rd due to the looming threat of Typhoon Dujuan. According to a source, the team trained as scheduled on Monday morning.

However, the rowers were subsequently informed that the team management had made several changes to the entries, with athletes moved between events and a reserve player brought into the team.

Navdeep Singh and Kulwinder Singh, who had been entered in the men’s double sculls, were moved to the quadruple sculls. Salman and Satnam, who were part of the quadruple sculls, were moved to the double sculls. Balraj Panwar was moved from the quadruple sculls to the single sculls, while Arvind Singh was shifted out of the single sculls and into the quadruple sculls.

Asian Games 2026 - Full coverage

Meanwhile, Vipul Ghurde was moved from the men’s pair to the coxless four, while reserve Saurav Kumar was dropped from the event. Jasmail Singh, who had been a reserve, was brought into the coxless four. Nitin Kumar and Jaswinder Singh, who had been part of the coxless four, were moved into the men’s pair.

According to Rowing Federation of India president Balaji Maradapa, the changes were made because the revised schedule left the rowers with less recovery time between events. “We made the changes to increase our chances of winning medals. Because the tournament days have been reduced, it would be impossible for the rowers to compete multiple times since rowing is an exhausting sport,” Maradapa told Sportstar.

The rowing events were originally scheduled to be held over five days, from September 20 to 24. However, following heavy rain and flooding in the preceding week, organisers reduced the competition to just two days, 23rd and 24th, to allow additional time to restore the water facilities. Under the revised schedule, all qualifying races would be held on the first day and the finals on the second, with no semifinals.

However, it remains unclear how reshuffling the crews would reduce their workload, given that they would still be competing in the same number of events.

A rower questioned the explanation, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Rowing is a game of coordination. You can’t just move players from one event to another and expect the coordination to be smooth. Ever since the national camp started six months ago, we have been training in our respective events. Now, we have been told two days before our event that we have to prepare for a new one,” the rower said.

A senior rowing official said that 50 per cent of a crew could be changed in the event of a medical emergency. The rowers, however, have questioned the changes made in the absence of such an emergency. “No one has been injured. These changes were presented to us at the last minute without any consultation,” one of them said.

Meanwhile, a source acknowledged that changing crews so close to the competition carried risks, but said the team management’s decision was aimed at ensuring the strongest combinations competed at the Asian Games.

“Some of the rowers have said they are very mentally disturbed. There are efforts going on right now to sort out the situation and ensure that the practice session takes place as scheduled tomorrow,” the source said. “It is a risk to change crews so late, but whatever decision the team management has taken is to ensure that the best teams are entered into the competition.”