Teething trouble

More than 50 athletes, juniors and seniors combined, are now training regularly. But with only one dragon boat available, the constraints are obvious. The boat accommodates just 10 rowers at a time, forcing the remaining 40 athletes to wait their turn, often sitting idle on the shore, itching to get back on the water. Yet the lack of resources has not slowed their rise.

KIRANMAI TUTIKA  I amaravati

Dragon boat racing, a sport more commonly associated with Kerala’s backwaters or the river festivals of China and Japan, is now gaining momentum in an unlikely location, Kurnool. Over the past few months, the Gargayapuram tank has turned into a training hub where dozens of youngsters gather every morning, hoping to turn a niche sport into a pathway to national glory.

Dragon boat racing, an ancient Asian water sport revered in countries like China and Japan, is beginning to capture the imagination of Andhra Pradesh’s youth. And leading this mini-revolution is a determined group of young athletes from Kurnool, who have taken to the sport with a zeal that is winning them medals and admiration.

While boat races in Kerala draw thousands of spectators during the Onam festivities, the sport has remained relatively unknown in Andhra Pradesh. But in the last few years, the state government has begun investing in training centres at Tirupati, Vijayawada and Eluru. Recently, Kurnool too joined the map, launching a training hub that is now buzzing with activity.

For the past six months, the expansive Gargayapuram tank, 11 kilometres from Kurnool city, has transformed into an open-air training arena. Each day at 5:45 AM, before the sun warms the waters, coach Chandrasekhar marshals his trainees for an intense session that stretches until 9 a.m.

“When we started, hardly anyone knew what dragon boat racing was,” he recalls. “There was curiosity, but not confidence. Today, young men and women are lining up to learn.” In October, at the state-level dragon boat championships held on the very waters they train on, the Kurnool team stunned seasoned competitors. They clinched two golds, three silvers and one bronze, drawing praise from officials and onlookers alike.

Their performance triggered another milestone, four senior athletes were selected for the Andhra Pradesh team, while ten juniors represented the state at the national championship in Bhopal, where they fought fiercely to secure a commendable fourth place.

Perhaps the proudest moment came when Nabi Saheb, from Gonegandla mandal, raced on the Yamuna River in Delhi and brought home a national bronze medal. For a district that had barely heard of the sport until recently, the achievement is nothing short of trailblazing.

Dragon boat racing is no longer just a regional pastime. It became an official event at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, raising its global profile and attracting countries across the continent. M Avinash Shetty,  General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Dragon Boat Association says, “This is a team event and is gaining popularity. In the recent Khelo India too there was a demonstration.”

“We requested officials many times before we finally got this one boat,” says Chandrasekhar. “Once it arrived, our students started winning medals immediately. Imagine what they could achieve if we had more boats and better facilities. They have the talent. All they need is support.”

With the next national championship just weeks away, the team is pushing through the limitations with grit and determination. Yet, they hope the state government steps in with more boats, better equipment, and structured training facilities.