Avantika Agrawal
An annual event instituted by ARAE (estb. 1933) — a rowing enthusiasts’ association affiliated with 17 premier rowing clubs in Asia — the regatta is one of the continent’s most competitive meets and attracted the participation of 200 rowing enthusiasts from 14 clubs in India and Asia.
The only child of Tanmay Agrawal, an aquaculturist, and social worker Anuranjita, Avantika took to the sport in 2014 inspired by Kolkata’s rowing culture. After training for a year with coach and mentor Shashi Kumar Singh, she won her first gold medal in the West Bengal Rowing Association’s Junior State Games in January 2015 in the women’s coxed fours event, and a silver in the women’s double sculls. A year later, she bagged a silver in the Bengal Olympics Association State Games in the open women’s coxed fours event, and dominated all students league and inter-school events.
Rowing is a testing endurance sport which requires peak fitness, says this gritty sportswoman. “I practice before school for two hours every day and three hours on weekends. The fitness regimen involves sprints, aerobics, ergometer, circuits and weights training. I begin my day with sugarcane juice and follow a gluten-free diet supported by egg protein,” she discloses.
Looking ahead, Avantika aspires to study sports science after completing her higher secondary education. “The infrastructure and coaching facilities for competitive rowing in India are comparable with the best in the world. My dream is to train intensively and make history by bringing an Olympic medal home,” she enthuses.
Power to your oars!
Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)