Rajasthan Makes History by Winning Gold at the 14th National Dragon Boat Championship

Dilip Singh Chauhan, Secretary of the Rajasthan Kayaking and Canoeing Association, reported that on the second day of the 14th National Dragon Boat Championship (Junior and Senior) held in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), the Rajasthan Junior Mixed Team made history by winning the gold medal in the 2000-meter race.

Bhagwan Swaroop, President of the Rajasthan Kayaking and Canoeing Association, stated that the Junior Mixed 2000-meter race featured around 12 of the nation’s top teams. Rajasthan’s Junior Mixed Team completed the race in **10 minutes and 243 milliseconds**, clinching the gold medal.

Ajay Agrawal, Chairman of Rajasthan Dragon Boat, and Mahesh Pimplekar of the Association added that the national gold-winning Junior Mixed Team included **Kaniska Kumawat, Shagun Kumawat, Mansvi Sukhwal, Naisa Paneri, Charvi Kumawat, Kavya Saini, Pranavi Kumawat, Tejasvi Joshi, Devendra Singh, Kulvardhan Singh Shaktawat, Parth Singh Chundawat, Saksham Kumawat, Anant Singhvi, and Manas Sukhwal**. These athletes delivered their best performance, bringing gold to Rajasthan. Former international medalist **Tanishk Patwa** has been appointed as the coach for both the Junior and Senior teams.

Chandra Gupta Singh Chauhan, Chairman of the Association, congratulated all the gold medal-winning athletes and extended his appreciation to **Divisional Commissioner Shrimati Pragya Kevalramani, District Sports Officer Mahesh Paliwal, and UDA Commissioner Rahul Jain**, acknowledging their pivotal role in promoting sports and supporting athletes in Udaipur. He emphasized that without their support, this achievement would not have been possible.

Following the victory, the team and association officials specially thanked **Dr. Laxyaraj Singh Mewar and Maharani Nivrati Singh Mewar** for providing boats before the competition, which allowed the athletes to train effectively and secure the gold medal for Rajasthan and Mewar.

During the race, **Bhagwan Swaroop Vaishnav (President), Dilip Singh Chauhan (Secretary), and Mahesh Pimplekar (Vice President)** were present to encourage the athletes.

Chauhan explained that prior to the competition, all prospective Rajasthan athletes underwent trials at the **Regional Coaching Center, Fatehsagar, Udaipur**, where the best performers were selected. A specialized training camp was then organized at the same venue, providing athletes with **international-standard training**, which ultimately led to Rajasthan’s gold medal victory.

Bhagwan Swaroop Vaishnav added that the championship in Bhopal began on **January 6, 2026**, and will continue until **January 9, 2026**. Rajasthan still has **five events remaining**, and there is optimism that the team will continue to bring home top honors.

After the gold win, **Ajay Agrawal**, Chairman of Rajasthan Dragon Boat, described the victory as a **moment of pride for the state** and a result of the dedication and hard work of both the athletes and coaches. He affirmed the Association’s commitment to providing **international-level facilities for Rajasthan athletes** in the future. A grand welcome has been planned for the team upon their return to Udaipur.

On this occasion, Association officials including **Chairman Piyush Kachwaha, Tushar Mehta, Kamlesh Hathi, Senior Vice President Dr. Mahavir Singh Parihar, Vice President Prof. Madan Singh Rathore, Technical Officer Deepak Gupta, Naval Singh, and Treasurer Dr. Bhupendra Singh** also extended their heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the team.