Bajrang Lal Takhar is returning to the Olympics after a gap of 16 years, this time as a coach. The Arjuna awardee and Padma Shri is in Paris to guide Balraj Panwar , the country’s lone rower at the Games, in single scull.
“It is a proud moment for me that I have got a chance (to be at the Olympics) as a coach, and I am at a loss for words. It’s difficult to explain my feelings,” he said.
“Definitely happy and excited, but it is different as a player and a coach. I have to get the best out of my boy, that is my biggest target. I got to learn by competing in the Olympics, now I am getting to learn as a coach. If we can focus on our performance and implement the lessons, it will be good for us not only in this event but also for (Indian) rowing in the future.”
Earlier this month, Panwar and Takhar along with assistant coach Gurdarshan Singh and sparring partner Salman Khan underwent a two-week camp in Gravelines before the core members moved to Paris last Sunday.
The lightweight double scull duo of Arvind Singh and Arjun Lal Jat had given Indian rowing its best-ever finish at the Olympics with their 12th place finish in Tokyo.
In single scull, in which India failed to qualify in 2020, Dattu Bhokanal’s 13th position in 2016 Rio stands out as the best-ever so far.
Takhar himself was 21st in 2008 Beijing followed by Sawarn Singh Virk at 16th in 2012 London.
The coach suggested it would be more appropriate to set Dattu’s performance as benchmark than that of Arjun-Arvind combination’s.
“The two are different events. I will look at how Dattu (Bhokanal) did. He finished 13th and that is the challenge for me,” Takhar said. “We are looking to reach the semifinals.”
Panwar sealed his berth for Paris by finishing third in the Asian Qualification event in Chungju, South Korea, in April.
“It is a proud moment for me that I have got a chance (to be at the Olympics) as a coach, and I am at a loss for words. It’s difficult to explain my feelings,” he said.
“Definitely happy and excited, but it is different as a player and a coach. I have to get the best out of my boy, that is my biggest target. I got to learn by competing in the Olympics, now I am getting to learn as a coach. If we can focus on our performance and implement the lessons, it will be good for us not only in this event but also for (Indian) rowing in the future.”
Earlier this month, Panwar and Takhar along with assistant coach Gurdarshan Singh and sparring partner Salman Khan underwent a two-week camp in Gravelines before the core members moved to Paris last Sunday.
The lightweight double scull duo of Arvind Singh and Arjun Lal Jat had given Indian rowing its best-ever finish at the Olympics with their 12th place finish in Tokyo.
In single scull, in which India failed to qualify in 2020, Dattu Bhokanal’s 13th position in 2016 Rio stands out as the best-ever so far.
Takhar himself was 21st in 2008 Beijing followed by Sawarn Singh Virk at 16th in 2012 London.
The coach suggested it would be more appropriate to set Dattu’s performance as benchmark than that of Arjun-Arvind combination’s.
“The two are different events. I will look at how Dattu (Bhokanal) did. He finished 13th and that is the challenge for me,” Takhar said. “We are looking to reach the semifinals.”
Panwar sealed his berth for Paris by finishing third in the Asian Qualification event in Chungju, South Korea, in April.
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