India’s lone rowing representative at the Paris Olympics, Balraj Panwar, faced a setback in his quest for a medal after finishing fifth in his quarterfinals heat race of the men’s single sculls event. The 25-year-old clocked a time of 7 minutes and 5.10 seconds in quarterfinals heat 4, relegating him to semifinals C/D, where rowers compete for positions 13th to 24th.
Panwar’s journey to the quarterfinals was a testament to his resilience. After finishing fourth in his first round heat race on Saturday, he secured a spot in the repechage round. On Sunday, he displayed his determination by finishing second in his repechage race, earning a berth in the quarterfinals.
However, the quarterfinals proved to be a challenging hurdle for Panwar. Individual Neutral Athlete Yauheni Zalaty dominated the heat with a time of 6:49.27, while Giedrius Bieliauskas of Lithuania and Ryuta Arakawa of Japan finished second and third, respectively.
The top three finishers in each of the four quarterfinal heats advanced to semifinals A/B, while the remaining rowers, including Panwar, will compete in semifinals C/D. The rowers in semifinals A/B will then vie for Final A/B races, where medals will be awarded to the top three finishers.
Despite the setback, Panwar remains determined to make the most of his Olympic experience. He will now focus on securing a respectable position in semifinals C/D and showcasing his skills on the global stage.
