India's men's quadruple sculls team created history by winning the country's first-ever gold medal at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 28, 2026. The team of Jasvinder Singh, Dhananjay Pujari, Sukhmeet Singh, and Charanjeet Singh clocked a time of 5:47.32 to finish first in the final.
Historic Achievement
The Indian quartet outpaced strong competitors from Germany and Italy, who finished second and third respectively. Germany clocked 5:49.10 for silver, while Italy took bronze with 5:50.45. This gold marks a significant milestone for Indian rowing on the international stage.
According to the Rowing Federation of India, this is the first time an Indian crew has won a gold medal at the World Rowing Cup, which is a premier annual event. The previous best for India was a bronze medal in the men's lightweight double sculls at the 2022 World Rowing Cup.
Race Details
The final took place on the Rotsee lake, a historic rowing venue. India started strong and maintained a consistent lead throughout the 2000-meter race. By the 500-meter mark, they were already ahead by half a boat length. At 1000 meters, they extended their lead to one boat length. The crew held off a late surge from Germany in the final 500 meters to secure victory.
Jasvinder Singh, the stroke man, said after the race: "We have been working hard for this moment. The support from the federation and coaches has been incredible. This gold is for the entire nation."
Impact on Indian Rowing
This victory is expected to boost the profile of rowing in India and inspire a new generation of athletes. The Indian team has been preparing for the 2028 Olympics, and this result signals their growing competitiveness. The Rowing Federation of India has invested in training facilities and international exposure, which is paying off.
India's performance at the World Rowing Cup also included a silver medal in the men's lightweight double sculls and a bronze in the women's quadruple sculls, making it the best overall performance by an Indian contingent at the event.
