Indian Para-Rowing Squad at Paralympics 2024: Categories, Medal chances, Schedule

Originally known as adaptive rowing, para-rowing is designed for athletes with disabilities. Rowers would have to race on flat water over a 1000-meter course and the first boat to cross the finish line wins.

Although the International Paralympic Committee formally assumed responsibility for managing the sport in 1992, para-rowing had its inaugural race only at the turn of this century. The first race was held at the 2002 World Rowing Championships in Seville, Spain.

Thereafter the sport made its Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Great Britain tops the medal tally in this sport with 10 overall medals, followed closely by China with 6 medals, and Ukraine in third position with 5 medals.

The venue for this sporting event is the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Paris, and it will take place between August 30th and September 1st.

Para Rowing Categories

The para-rowing category is classified into five different classes by the World Rowing organization: PR1 Men’s Singles Sculls, PR1 Women’s Singles Sculls, PR2 Mixed Doubles Sculls, PR3 Mixed Doubles Sculls, and PR3 Mixed Coxed four.

PR1 (Men’s and Women’s Singles): Rowers can only use their arms and shoulders, without engaging their trunk (the central part of the body, including the chest, abdomen, and back) or legs, to row using two oars.

PR2 (Mixed Doubles): A team of two rowers, one man, and one woman, each with two oars, can use their upper body (trunk and arms) while their seats are fixed and their legs remain straight with no movement.

PR3 (Mixed Doubles): This is a new category making its Paralympic debut in Paris. In this category, rowers can use their legs, trunk, and arms. It is reserved for rowers with less severe impairments compared to PR1 and PR2. Rowers with visual impairments and mild physical disabilities compete in this category, each with two oars.

PR3 (Coxed Four): A team of four rowers—two men and two women along with a coxswain (an additional team member who steers the boat and directs the rowers) competes in this category. Each rower has one oar, and they can use their arms, trunk, and legs. The team may include a maximum of two visually impaired rowers.

Indian Para-rowing Squad

Anita and Narayana Konganapalle are the two Indians competing in para-rowing at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, where India is making its debut.

The pair qualified for this marquee event by competing in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls category at the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Paralympic Qualification 2024 in Chungju, South Korea.

They are the only Asian rowers besides Thai rowers who were invited to this event through the bipartite commission invitation in this new category, which is making its Paralympic debut. The pair also enjoyed success earlier, securing a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

Medal Chances

Although India secured a silver medal at the Asian Para Games, they finished 9th at the World Championships, while their opponents—Australia, the United States, and France finished in the top 3 respectively in the competition that happened in Serbia in 2023.

Therefore, it will be tough for the Indian team to navigate these challenging waters against such strong rivals in the Paralympics.

However, if the Indian team can build on their Para Asian Games success and adopt the right strategies, they may be able to create an upset and stand a chance for a podium finish.

Schedule of Indian Para-Rowers (Indian Standard Time)

30th August

3:00 PM: PR3 Mixed Double Sculls Heats

31st August

2:40 PM: PR3 Mixed Double Sculls Repechages (If not qualified for the final directly through heats)

1st September

3:00 PM: PR3 Mixed Double Sculls Final B (If finished just outside the qualification for the medal race)

3:40 PM: PR3 Mixed Double Sculls Final A (Medal race, if qualified)