### Harshvardhan Singh Shaktawat Secures Bronze Medal for India at Asian Canoe Sprint Championship

Udaipur, India – Indian athlete Harshvardhan Singh Shaktawat, representing the national kayaking team, secured a bronze medal at the Asian Canoe Sprint Championship held in Rayong, Thailand, from June 12 to June 15, 2025. Competing in the K-4 1000-meter event, Shaktawat contributed to India’s medal tally and earned recognition on the continental stage.

The Indian contingent for the championship comprised 21 athletes—10 men and 11 women—who participated in various kayaking and canoeing events. Shaktawat’s podium finish came on the second day of the competition, where he demonstrated commendable performance in the team-based K-4 race.

Preparation for the championship involved an intensive national coaching camp organized by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, conducted from May 20 to June 8 at the Kayaking and Canoeing Training Centre in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. Training was led by experts including Ching Ching Singh, Veerpal Singh, and international coach Alexander.

According to Piyush Kachhwaha, Chairperson of Rajasthan Canoe Sprint, and Dilip Singh Chauhan, Indian Dragon Boat Chairperson, the medal reflects the growing capabilities of Indian athletes in water sports. They highlighted Shaktawat’s role as the first senior male athlete from Udaipur to win a medal at an Asian-level kayaking championship.

The achievement was acknowledged by several officials, including:

R.K. Dhabhai, President, Rajasthan Kayaking Association

Chandragpt Singh Chauhan, Vice President

Bhagwan Swaroop Vaishnav, Vice President

Ajay Agrawal, Chairperson, Dragon Boat

Nawal Singh Chundawat, Chairperson, Slalom

Veeram Dev Singh Krishnawat, Chairperson, Canoe Polo

Tushar Mehta, Chairperson

Nischay Singh Chauhan, National Coach

Deepak Gupta, Technical Advisor

Trilok Vaishnav, and other members of the state association.

Shaktawat, who trained under the supervision of Nischay Singh Chauhan at the Fatehsagar Lake Kayaking Centre in Udaipur, expressed his intention to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games, aiming for further international success. He acknowledged the challenges faced during training sessions in extreme weather conditions and reaffirmed his commitment to achieving higher goals.

Despite limitations in infrastructure and availability of modern equipment, the Udaipur Kayaking and Canoeing Centre continues to produce athletes who perform at both national and international levels. The success of athletes like Shaktawat emphasizes the potential of water sports in Rajasthan, particularly in disciplines such as kayaking, canoeing, and dragon boat racing.