Madras Boat Club was founded in 1867 and happens to be one of the oldest rowing centers of India. It was founded by some Englishmen of Madras. It is situated on the banks of Adyar River. Amateur Rowing Association of the East came up due to their efforts. Mr. Borun Chanda was the first to pave the way for an organized training of the rowers.
Madras Boat Club situated in Chennai is one of India’s oldest rowing centers. It is more than 130 years old. This club was founded in 1867 by some Englishmen of Madras. Earlier, this club was started in the Ennore backwaters. Pictures of it are still present at the Club's archives. But it was re-located to its current location in the year of 1892. This club is now situated on the banks of Adyar River. It can be accessed from Chennai International Airport and Chennai Central Railway Station.
Madras Boat Club of Chennai is also the credit holder of being one of the founding members of ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East). The club has been the winners of ‘Willingdon Fours’ and the ‘Venables Pairs’ trophies at the inaugural regatta of the ARAE held in Pune in 1933. The club holds various training courses in rowing and also organizes several rowing or yacht races. The club has even imported a large number of boats and oars from the United States of America.
Club records reveal that there were 32 rowing members and 24 non-rowing members during 1874-75. The popularity of the game increased with more and more rowers coming up. The attire was dark blue coat with brass buttons during 1898. The monogram that was adopted during that year continues even today. Mr. MM Muthiah was elected as the first Indian President of the club in 1967. It was Mr. Borun Chanda who first laid the way for an organized training.
Some of the notable rowers are:
- S Sriram
- Anand Ranganath
- Naresh Vasudev
- R Chandramouli
- MR Ravindra
- Ketan Adhia
|
- VVS Giri
- Sanjeev Kesu
- Ajaz Sikander Bakth
- Zarwan Patel
- Vikram Venkataraman
Some notable achievements of Madras Boat Club are as follows:
Chennai Madras Boat Club won the 1972 Willingdon trophy and the three trophies at the ARAE regatta of 1973. Raffath Sayeed, MM Sanyal and Pervez Mulla were some famous oarsmen of this period.
- The untiring efforts of the club led to the establishment of the Rowing Federation of India.
- The club participated in the first Indian National Rowing Championship, Kolkata of 1977.
- It won the gold medal in the Coxed Fours event of the 1980 Nationals held in Kolkata.
- Winner of 4 gold medals and shield for the 'Best team in Tamil Nadu' at the 1981 Nationals held in Pune.
- In the 1982 Asian Games of New Delhi, in which the rowing events were organized on Ramgarh Lake, Jaipur, the club members made a major contribution.
- In the 1983 World Rowing Championship, Mr. Borun Chanda was selected as the Chief Coach of the team.
Women took an active interest into rowing in 1988. Notable among them were Gayatri Acharya, Vijaya Chari, Pavitra Rao, Arati Rao and Chatura Rao. They started receiving training from Coach Chacko Kandathil. The women’s team won two silver medals in the lightweight and open category at the 1989 Asian Rowing Championships, Chandigarh. They participated in the Asian Games, Beijing lightweight coxless four. Seeing their consistency, the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalist's Association awarded them with the shield for the 'Best team in Tamilnadu'.
Address:
Madras Boat Club, Chennai
No- 2, RA Puram, 3rd Avenue, Boat Club Road, Chennai
Phone: +91-44-24353190
|
