HYDERABAD: In a rare inst an ce of a wife succeeding a hus band, 52-year-old Rajlaxmi Singh Deo has taken over as president of the Rowing Federation of India (RFI) from CP Singh Deo following the general body elections held recently.
“The RFI wanted me to be the president and I was elected. I have been actively in volved in rowing for the last four years and it is not that I have been wife of CP Singh De o that have I become the president,’’ said Rajlaxmi, who played an active role in development of the water sport along with her husband in the last four years.
“It is a challenging post. My predecessor has set a high standard and I have to see that rowers continue to excel in international events,’’ she added. Saying that the last Asian Games in China brought a new hope that the Indian rowers can do it, Rajlaxmi said their priority would now be to see more women rowers take part in this sport.
“We have seen encouraging results. The women rowers won bronze medal for the first time in the Asian Games in China. I would like to see more and more women join this sport. Rowing may not be a spectacular event like others but it is one of the challenging sports. The success of Indian rowers has changed their lifestyle and they have been dreaming of more glory,’’ she added. Rajlaxmi said RFI’s endeavour would be to attract sp onsors. “We have been getting help from the sports ministry but we will be trying rope in sponsors. That will be one of priorities in the next four ye ars. Of course, it will all depend on our results in international events, particularly in the Asian Games. Indian rowers are good but physically they are not as strong as the Chinese or the Koreans. We have to work very hard to match their standards,’’ she pointed out, adding, “the co a ches have been remarkable in their effort to lift the stand a rds.’’ Meanwhile, CP Singh Deo, who was elected as executive member of the RFI after finishing his four-year term as president, said his biggest ach i evement was India winn ing two golds in the Asian Ga mes.
“It was one of the proudest mo ments. We could break the ba rrier. The Asian teams fear India now,’’ he said. Talking ab out the High Perform ance Ce ntre, he said it produced positive results.