Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth felicitates rowers Lakshay, Ujjwal for historic World Rowing Cup Gold
New Delhi, July 2
Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth felicitated Havildar Lakshay and Havildar Ujjwal Kumar Singh of the Army Rowing Node on their achievement of winning India's first-ever Gold Medal at the World Rowing Cup in the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls event at Lucerne, Switzerland.
The pair on June 27 won the men's lightweight double sculls title at the 2026 World Rowing Cup III held in Lucerne, clocking a timing of 6:26.09 to finish ahead of competitors from Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
The historic triumph marks a major milestone for Indian rowing and is expected to inspire young athletes across the country. The gold medal-winning duo, Havildar Ujjwal Kumar Singh and Havildar Lakshay, are serving soldiers in the Indian Army and represent the Army Rowing Node, which has been instrumental in nurturing rowing talent.
Earlier, in a post on X, the Indian Army congratulated the athletes, saying, "Historic! India's First Ever . Hav Lakshay & Hav Ujjwal Kumar Singh (Army Rowing Node) won India's first-ever World Rowing Cup gold in LM2x at Lucerne -- 6:26.09. Proud moment for the Indian Army and the nation!"
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had also congratulated Lakshay and Ujjwal for winning gold. He called it a historic achievement for Indian rowing, highlighting their hard work and determination, and said the victory reflects the growing strength of the sport in India.
In an X post, he had said, "Golden Achievement for Indian Rowing! Havildar Lakshya and Havildar Ujjwal Kumar Singh have scripted a new chapter in Indian sports history by clinching the gold medal at the World Rowing Cup with their stellar performance. This historic achievement is a symbol of the growing strength of Indian rowing, the players' tireless hard work, and their spirit. Heartfelt congratulations to both players on this proud success, and infinite best wishes for a bright future."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Absolutely thrilling news! This is a huge moment for Indian sports, especially rowing which doesn't usually get much limelight. Hats off to Lakshay and Ujjwal for their dedication. At the same time, I hope the government starts paying more attention to grassroots sports development so we can see more such heroes emerge. 🙏
What a proud moment! 🥇 Beating Hong Kong and Netherlands is no small feat. The Army Rowing Node has been doing excellent work. I hope this inspires more youngsters from rural areas to take up rowing. Jai Hind!
Wonderful achievement! Both Havildar Lakshay and Havildar Ujjwal have shown that with determination, anything is possible. I'm glad the Army Chief personally felicitated them - that recognition matters a lot to the soldiers. My only request is that we also focus on improving training facilities for rowing in India so that such achievements become more common.
Incredible! This is just the beginning for Indian rowing. The fact that they are serving soldiers makes it even more special - balancing duty and sports at this level is truly commendable. 🇮🇳 I hope the media gives them the coverage they deserve. Many congratulations to both heroes!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.