5 of India's greatest ever rowers

Bajrang Lal Takhar

Like Sawarn Singh Virk, Bajrang Lal Takhar was one of the very few Indian rowers to win the Arjuna Award. The nation’s fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, was also bestowed upon Takhar in 2013 – such is the standing of the man in the annals of Indian rowing.

India’s first ever individual rowing gold medallist at the Asian Games, Takhar created history in 2010 at Guangzhou, China, in the Men’s Singles Sculls event, thus erasing the heartbreak of being so near, yet so far, at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, where he won the silver medal.

Takhar won yet another Asian Games medal – bronze this time – at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games in the Men’s Eight event this time, thus underlining his versatility. He also represented the country at the 2008 Beijing Games. The Rajasthani is also a Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army.