Asian Games 2018 | Rowing provided me what I could not achieve in other fields, reveals Bhagwan Singh
Indian rower Bhagwan Singh, who has won a bronze medal with Rohit Kumar in men’s lightweight double sculls at the Asian Games, gave credits to the sport for improving his life. Speaking of which, he said rowing has provided him what he could not achieve in other fields throughout his career.
Seven years ago, when Bhagwan Singh had joined Chandigarh university to pursue a course in journalism and mass communications, he shifted from his village Thatti Bhai near Moga. With father Darshan Singh being forced to be a truck driver due to monetary issues, Bhagwan had to quit college in 2012. He then joined the army after eight unsuccessful attempts to support his family.
When Bhagwan won a bronze medal with Rohit at the Asian Games on Friday, the 25-year-old Indian Army rower remembered the tough times and his dreams.
“I always wanted to be a media professional and cover events. That was the reason I came to Kharar from my village. My father used to work as a truck driver and after taking a medicine for diabetes, one of his lungs collapsed. Then I finally joined the Indian Army after eight attempts,” Bhagwan said.
He further thanked Subedar Kudrat Ali of the Bombay Engineers Group for introducing him to the sport after seeing his height and revealed that rowing has changed his life in a positive way.
“I would like to thank Subedar Kudrat Ali of the Bombay Engineers Group for introducing me to rowing after seeing my height. Today, when I have won a medal, so many
The last four years saw the Punjab rower winning the double sculls gold in 2014 and 2015 nationals before seeing him go as a reserve in the Indian team for the 2016 Olympics qualifiers in South Korea after his partner suffered chicken-pox. Last year, Bhagwan won two gold medals in the Pune nationals.
On the other hand, Bhagwan’s father said he felt bad after his son gave up his studies due to family issues. However, he felt the bronze in the Asiad was a reward for all those years.
“Bhagwan has sacrificed a lot for us. As a truck driver, I would not earn much but he always had a keen interest in studies. We were disappointed when he left his studies in 2012 but somebody in the family had to work to support all of us. This medal is the reward for all those years,” Darshan said.