Indian Army hails Lakshay, Ujjwal after historic gold medal in Rowing World Cup
New Delhi, June 29
The Indian Army congratulated rowing athletes Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh after the duo clinched India's first-ever gold medal at a Rowing World Cup event.
The pair on Saturday won the men's lightweight double sculls title at the 2026 World Rowing Cup III held in Lucerne, Switzerland, 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.
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 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 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
Finally, some good news for Indian sports beyond cricket! These soldiers-turned-athletes are showing us what grit really means. 6:26.09 - that's an incredible time. I hope this inspires more youngsters to take up rowing. And can we talk about how the Army supports soldiers to excel in sports? That's the real story here.
As someone who follows rowing closely, this is huge. India has never had a gold at the World Cup level before. The lightweight double sculls is fiercely competitive - to beat Hong Kong and the Netherlands is no small feat. Lakshay and Ujjwal are rewriting history. Big congratulations from Canada! 🇨🇦
Amazing achievement but we need to ask - why does the Army have to be the primary sports developer? Where's the government's sports infrastructure? Our athletes should have world-class facilities without having to join the Army. That said, massive respect to Havildar Lakshay and Havildar Ujjwal for this historic win. They've earned every bit of this glory. 🙏
This brought tears to my eyes! 😭 As someone from Uttarakhand, seeing two soldiers from our state make history is incredible. Ujjwal Kumar Singh - our hill boy has done it! The Chief Minister's message is spot on. This proves that with proper training and determination, Indians can compete with the best in the world. What a golden moment for Indian rowing! 🥇
Respect to these soldiers! They train in harsh conditions and still deliver world-class performances. This is the kind of dedication that wins medals. India
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