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Balraj Panwar, the only Indian rower to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, said that he will reach Paris 20 days early to adjust to the conditions and he hopes that it will benefit him.
Panwar, who will be competing in the men's single sculls rowing event, will be among the first batch of Indian athletes who will reach Paris well in advance of the Paris Olympics 2024 to acclimatize to the conditions.
“We are going there 20 days in advance and I’m sure it won’t feel ‘strange’. It will help us acclimatise to the weather and be ready,” Speaking to reporters virtually, Panwar said.
Salman Khan will accompany Panwar as his training partner
“You are alone in the waters in men’s singles sculls and there is a lot of mental as well as physical training needed. With Salman in training, I hope to get myself ready fully before the big event.” Indian doubles sculls rower Salman Khan will accompany him to Paris as his training partner.
Panwar secured quota by winning bronze
Panwar, who hails from Haryana, had secured the Paris Olympics 2024 quota by winning a bronze medal in the men's single sculls (M1X) event at the Asia Oceania Rowing Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea last month. In men’s singles sculls, no Indian rower has reached the semifinals and Panwar is chasing the dream of achieving the best-ever finish for the country at Paris.
Panwar is being coached by Bajrang Lal Thakkar
Having started rowing only three years back, Panwar has shown tremendous improvement and narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. He is being coached by veteran rower Bajrang Lal Thakkar, who represented India in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“With each tournament, our experience increases. The Asian Games was an important stepping stone in my journey and I will be going to Paris with full preparation.”