Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Crew Changes Trigger Rowing Controversy Before Asian Games Competition
India’s rowing team changed some boat crews just before the Asian Games began.
The rowers said they had practiced together for many months.
They said sudden changes made it harder to work together in the boats.
Some athletes also said a federation official threatened their futures if they refused to compete.
The federation president denied having a heated argument with them.
He said a typhoon shortened the rowing schedule from four days to two.
Because races were now closer together, he said new teams and tactics were needed.
The men’s four finished fourth in its heat and did not advance.
Four Indian men’s boats still reached finals, and a women’s crew remained in medal contention.
India’s rowing federation changed several men’s crews two days before competition began.
Rowers said the changes disrupted combinations built over six to eight months.
Athletes alleged federation president Balaji Maradapa threatened their careers if they refused to race.
Maradapa denied a heated exchange and said Typhoon Dujuan compressed competition into two days.
India’s men’s four finished fourth in its heat and was eliminated.
- Who
- Indian men’s rowers, the Rowing Federation of India, federation president Balaji Maradapa, and coaches.
- What
- Several established rowing crews were changed shortly before Asian Games competition, prompting allegations of intimidation and a dispute over strategy.
- When
- The changes and confrontation occurred on Tuesday, one day before the rowing competition began on Wednesday.
- Where
- At the Asian Games rowing camp and competition in Gifu.
- Why
- The federation said Typhoon Dujuan compressed the rowing programme from four days to two, requiring a new strategy; rowers said the changes damaged carefully developed crew coordination.
Rowers’ account
Federation’s explanation
Reason for the crew changes
Rowers’ account
The rowers said established combinations built over six to eight months were disrupted two days before racing, undermining coordination and morale.
Federation’s explanation
Balaji Maradapa said the schedule had been compressed from four days to two because of Typhoon Dujuan, so the federation needed a fresh strategy.
Conversation with athletes
Rowers’ account
Two rowers alleged that Maradapa shouted at them, warned that their futures would be ruined, and told them to return to India if they would not race.
Federation’s explanation
Maradapa acknowledged speaking with about eight rowers but denied that the conversation was heated, saying he advised them to consider their futures.
Competitive impact
Rowers’ account
The rowers said the original crews gave India a realistic chance of continuing its Asian Games medal record and that the late changes damaged their prospects.
Federation’s explanation
The federation argued that athletes could not be expected to compete in multiple events within the shortened competition window and said the changes followed consultation with chief coach Anthony Patterson.
- Federation
- Rowing Federation of India
- Federation president
- Balaji Maradapa
- Schedule change
- The rowing programme was reduced from four days to two because of Typhoon Dujuan.
- Changed crew
- Saurav Kumar and Vipul Ghurde replaced Jaswinder Singh and Nitin Kumar in the men’s four.
- Men’s four result
- The boat finished fourth in its heat in 6:30.47 and was eliminated.
- Remaining contention
- Four Indian men’s boats reached finals, while a women’s crew remained in medal contention.
- Previous Asian Games result
- India won five rowing medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games: two silver and three bronze.