Indian rower Balraj Panwar finishes 23rd in men’s single sculls at Paris Olympics
India’s lone representative in rowing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Balraj Panwar, concluded his campaign with a 23rd-place finish in the men’s single sculls event. The Haryana-based rower displayed steady progress throughout the competition but ultimately fell short of a podium spot.
Panwar, making his Olympic debut, clocked a personal best of 7:02.37 in the Final D on Friday, capping off his journey at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. While the final ranking might not reflect his overall performance, the Indian Army man showcased commendable growth during the competition.
Starting with a fourth-place finish in his heat, Panwar secured his place in the quarter-finals through repechage. Despite missing out on the medal round after placing fifth in the quarterfinals, he continued to compete for a higher ranking in the subsequent rounds.
Panwar’s qualification for the Paris Olympics came after clinching a bronze medal at the Asian and Oceanian Rowing Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea. The 23-year-old had narrowly missed a bronze at the previous year’s Asian Games.
India’s best-ever Olympic performance in rowing remains an 11th-place finish by Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh in the men’s lightweight double sculls at Tokyo 2020.
Meanwhile, India’s badminton star PV Sindhu suffered a heartbreaking exit from the Paris Olympics, losing in the round of 16 to China’s He Bing Jiao.
The two-time Olympic medalist, who had been a medal hopeful, expressed disappointment but also confirmed her intention to continue playing after a short break. Sindhu’s exit marked the first time she returned from the Olympics without a medal.
The early elimination of Sindhu has cast a shadow over India’s medal hopes at the Paris Olympics. While athletes in other disciplines continue to strive for glory, the nation will be eagerly awaiting the performances of its remaining contenders.
