Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 25 : The sun may have set on the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025, but the first-ever consolidated, national-level, Open-age competition featuring kayaking, coaching and rowing has set a new chapter in the history of water sports in the country.
The Games, hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India, have lifted the enthusiasm of water sports athletes and their coaches as they eye qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and aim to win medals in other global competitions. All 24 gold medals, 10 of which were in rowing, were decided at Dal Lake from August 21-23 and were Olympic events.
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Kerala emerged as the top three states in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival. An iconic lake in Bhopal, a water sports training centre alongside the Bay of Bengal and an SAI Centre of Excellence in the lap of Kerala's enchanting backwaters in Alappuzha gained headlines after athletes from these facilities made a big splash at the Dal.
The performance of water sports exponents like Rasmita Sahoo, Bidya Devi Oinam, and Shruti Tanaji Chougule, who train at SAI's Jagatpur centre in Odisha; Dally Bishnoi, Shikha Chauhan, and Pallavi Jagtab of MP, and Vishal Dangi of Uttarakhand have given the kayaking and canoeing fraternity great hope. Shikha and Pallavi were part of an Indian troika that recently won a historic silver in the Asian Canoe Slalom Championship in Guizhou, China.
The performance of kayakers and canoeists who train at the five SAI centres across India was noteworthy. Forty-seven SAI athletes won five golds, seven silvers and three bronze medals. Jagatpur, which had 15 athletes at KIWSF 2025, was the best with three golds and five silvers.
Under the new sports policy (Khelo Bharat Niti) aimed at upliftment and exposure, the KIWSF festival can be a game-changer. The Dal Games have already motivated the water sports fraternity, and with the government's support through its TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) and TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) schemes, the impact could be seen in the Asian Games in Japan next year.
More than 30 gold medals each are at stake in the Olympics and Asian Games in kayaking and canoeing alone, and India can certainly think of winning a medal at these global meets, feel experts. Coaches associated with SAI's National Centres of Excellence in Odisha and Kerala already sound motivated. Team champions Madhya Pradesh, which won 10 of the 24 gold medals in KIWSF, are equally bolstered.
The powerhouse performance Madhya Pradesh displayed in Srinagar wasn't by chance. It was a product of a carefully nurtured ecosystem of discipline and ambition at the MP State Water Sports Academy of Excellence.
"This is the result of months of intense preparation, a disciplined schedule, and the trust these young athletes placed in us," said Ankush Sharma, Madhya Pradesh's kayaking and canoeing coach, as quoted from a press release by SAI Media. "Each paddle stroke was backed by purpose. Every finish was a reflection of our training philosophy."
Assisting Ankush was Champa Mourya. She played a pivotal role in motivating the team behind the scenes. "We worked not just on physical endurance but mental strength too," she said.
"These kids learned to thrive under pressure. And today, they are champions not just of Madhya Pradesh but the entire country," added Champa. The aspiration to win global laurels is only getting stronger, she said.
Coach at Jagatpur, Laisharam Johnson Singh, said Odisha's performance signals a shift in India's water sports map. "This is only the beginning for Odisha. The talent pool is deep, and with more investment and support, we will be leading soon."
Johnson, known for his patient mentoring style, emphasised the importance of exposure and competitive experience. "Our paddlers are learning to trust the process.
Silver today, gold tomorrow," he said. "The process has to go on and the results will come."
While Kerala came third with seven medals, including three gold, one silver, and three bronze, their performance was nothing short of inspiring. Coach Prithviraj Nandkumar Shinde said, "Kerala has always had a legacy in water sports. This year, we added another chapter to it." He added that building on the fundamentals will make the athletes perfect and better.
The top three teams, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala, walked away with not just medals but also with stories of grit and growth. Behind every podium finish was a coach's unshakable belief. Now it's all about making the next level.
Dalip Beniwal, SAI's High Performance Manager and senior coach at Jagatpur, feels the Khelo India Water Sports Festival in Srinagar is a springboard for the fraternity, especially kayaking and canoeing. "We have rowers representing India in the Olympics and Asian Games. Our kayakers and canoeists can surely do the same if they get the exposure they deserve. The Games here have been an eye-opener," said Beniwal.
Beniwal backed SAI's Nehru Park facility at Dal Lake as a high-performance training centre. "The low oxygen in Srinagar helps build strength and stamina. If our sportspersons are assured of jobs both from the government and corporate sectors, they can really make a mark in water sports," said Beniwal.