Rowers Manjeet, Swarn & Sandeep qualify for Olympics

New Delhi: Three rowers, including Manjeet Singh, Swarn Singh Virk and Sandeep Kumar qualified for the London Games during an Olympic qualifiers Asian tournament in South Korea on Sunday.

Swarn Singh Virk booked his spot in the Men's Single sculls event, while Manjeet Singh and Sandeep Kumar will show their might in the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls event at London Olympics. These berths were secured by Indian rowers by winning their respective events at the FISA Olympic Continental Qualification Regatta for Asia held at Chung Ju, South Korea. This will be the second Olympics for Manjeet, who also took part in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Rowing Federation of India conducted the camp in Hyderabad in a highly professional manner and looked after these rowers in all respects of right from their mental and physical fitness, training and to the performance on and off the waters.

Despite the fourth successive passage to the Olympics, Sriram, Secretary Genral of Rowing Federation of India is being humble and realistic about India's medal chances in London. According to Sriram, "We expect to do well. But we have a long way to go to contend for the medals in the forthcoming Olympics.”

Meahwile, Manjeet Singh started his basic training in rowing 2004 at Chandigarh Rowing Training Centre at Sukhna Lake and under the guidance of Arvind Sehgal, rowing Coach from Chandigarh Sports Council.

“We are all very happy for all the three rowers who have qualified for London Olympics, especially for our own Manjeet Singh who has give us every reason to feel proud for by their remarkable achievement,” said Parmod Kumar Singla, Joint Secretary of Rowing Federation of India. He said, “We like to congratulate and wish all the three rowers, the very best for London Olympics 2012.”