Asian Games | Told my teammates to go for gold and give it all, says Sawarn Singh

Indian rowers had to overcome an unexpected and disastrous outing yesterday when they were in contention for four medals to ensure that India does not return home empty-handed from Jakarta. All army men fought with a never-say-die spirit that soldiers are known for, pushed their boat as if there was no tomorrow. 

“Yesterday we had a bad day but soldiers never give up. I told my teammates that we will go for the gold and we will give it all. It was about do or die and we did it,” Sawarn Singh, senior most of the team said to the PTI. 

He not only pushed himself, but his words also encouraged teammates, including Dattu Baban Bhokanal, who had given up half-way into his single sculls race and Sukhmeet Singh and Om Prakash. Like Bhokanal, Sawarn and Prakash also suffered a loss, missing out on a bronze in men's doubles Sculls. But all of them were able to turn it around within less than 24 hrs as they won a historic gold in the men's quadruple sculls. 

Dushyant Chauhan won a bronze medal and defended the title that he received in the previous Asian Games in Incheon. Bhagwan Singh and Rohit Kumar won another bronze in men's kightweight double sculls. He gave quite all his energy in the final of 500 metres that led to him being carried on a stretcher to the medical centre. He was so drained that he couldn't stand properly during the medal ceremony.

“I pushed as if it was the last race of me life. Maybe I pushed a bit harder but it was worth it. I had a bad cold and throat in the run up to the event, that also affected me a lot during the race. I was gone. I just had two breads and an apple. It was very hot also. That is why I was completely dehydrated,” he said. 

The quadruple sculls were more than just a race for the experienced Bhokanal who had to do it for his late mother and Sawarn who had to check if he still had it in him after suffering a slip disc after the previous Asain games. I never thought that I could come back and win a medal for the country again. The federation took care of me, sent me to Chennai for my back treatment. I am thankful to them,” Sawarn said. 

The squad changed tactics after the dismal show on Thursday. 

“We were in front in the first 1000m yesterday but were chased down at the end. Today we ensured that we were ready steady in the first half and then accelerated in the final 500 metres” Sawarn added. 

The move paid off as the squad won the race by close to three seconds. Indonesia and Thailand won silver and bronze respectively. The gold was also India's second at the Asian games rowing, the first being Bajrang Lal Thakkar’s in 2010. 

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