Shillong, Dec 19: Meghalaya stamped their authority at the inaugural Northeast Rowing Regatta and Championship 2025, finishing as overall champions as the region’s first major rowing event brought together competitors from all eight northeastern states.
The championship featured men’s and women’s races across five age groups — Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-18 and Senior — with athletes competing in a range of rowing disciplines.
The multi-day regatta saw keenly contested races across categories, underlining the steady growth of rowing and watersports in the Northeast.
Meghalaya topped the medal standings with an impressive haul of 47 medals, including 17 gold, 21 silver and nine bronze.
Manipur finished second with 15 medals, highlighted by 12 gold, one silver and two bronze, while Assam secured third place with a total of 12 medals comprising two gold, six silver and four bronze.
Officials noted that medal-winning performances came from across all age groups, with both emerging talent and senior rowers contributing to their respective state tallies.
The distribution of medals reflected not only competitive depth but also increasing consistency among the participating states.
Organised by the Meghalaya Rowing and Watersports Association with support from the state government, the event was described as a major step forward in the development of rowing infrastructure and administrative capability in the region. The smooth conduct of the championship, organisers said, demonstrated the state’s readiness to host larger competitions.
In the wake of the successful regatta, the association expressed its intent to bid for a standalone National Rowing Championship next year.
Officials added that hosting such an event would help prepare Meghalaya ahead of the 39th National Games in 2027, while further strengthening the sport’s footprint in the Northeast and positioning the state as a future hub for national-level watersports.
With the inaugural edition setting a strong benchmark, the Northeast Rowing Regatta has laid a solid foundation for sustained growth of the sport in the region.
