22 Rowers Added to TOPS Development Group Ahead of Asian Games 2026
India expands rowing talent pool with long-term focus on Asian Games and potential Commonwealth Games return in 2030
Among the prominent rowers included in the TOPS Development Group are Paris 2024 Olympian Balraj Panwar, Asian Games 2022 silver medallist Arvind Singh and double Asian Games medallist Jaswinder Singh.
New Delhi: The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has inducted 22 rowers into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group as part of India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and other major international competitions.
The decision was taken during the 174th meeting of the MOC following the completion of annual national selection trials and crew finalisation by the Rowing Federation of India.
The selected athletes have been grouped across six boat categories and will form the core of India’s rowing programme for upcoming international events, including the Asian Games and World Cup circuit.
Among the prominent rowers included in the TOPS Development Group are Paris 2024 Olympian Balraj Panwar, Asian Games 2022 silver medallist Arvind Singh and double Asian Games medallist Jaswinder Singh.
The rowers have been selected across Men’s Single Sculls, Men’s Double Sculls, Men’s Quadruple Sculls, Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Men’s Coxed Eight and Women’s Coxless Fours categories.
According to officials, the initiative reflects a broader strategy to build sustainable bench strength across multiple rowing disciplines rather than focusing solely on individual medal contenders.
While the immediate objective is to strengthen India’s campaign for the 2026 Asian Games, some of the selected crews are also being developed for longer-term international targets, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India is set to host.
The government believes expanding athlete depth and strengthening rowing infrastructure will be crucial if rowing returns to the Commonwealth Games programme. The sport last featured at the Commonwealth Games during the 1986 edition in Edinburgh.
Selected TOPS Development Group Rowers
Men’s Single Sculls
Arvind Singh
Men’s Double Sculls
Navdeep Singh, Kulwinder Singh
Men’s Quadruple Sculls
Balraj Panwar, Satnam Singh, Jakar Khan, Salman Khan
Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls
Lakshay, Ujjwal Kumar Singh
Men’s Coxed Eight
Jaswinder Singh, Nitin Kumar, Babulal Yadav, Yogesh Kumar, Ghurde Vipul Satish, Saurav Kumar, Iqbal Singh, Sannee Kumar and Dhananjay Uttam Pande
Women’s Coxless Fours
Gurbani Kaur, Poonam, Tendenthoi and Aleena Anto
