Lining up in Poznan, Poland were two Indian canoeists dreaming of one day gracing the Olympic stage.
Looking through the record books, no paddler has previously represented India in canoeing at the Olympic Games.
But this could change if Arjun Singh, 19, and Gyaneshwor Singh Philem, 21, make their big ambitions become a reality.
Making the 3,800-mile trip from India to Poland, Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Philem from Manipur got the chance to rub shoulders with the best paddlers on the planet when participating in the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Cup in Poznan.
Racing in the men’s canoe double 500m, Singh and Philem faced the likes of Olympic silver medallists Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini of Italy and eventual World Cup winners Nico Pickert and Conrad-Robin Scheibner of Germany in a tough heat.
It was a memorable experience for the Indian duo who are determined to make their mark on the international stage.
Singh and Philem form part of the ICF Talent Identification Programme (TIP) that started on May 22 and will run until June 16.
“I’ll be here for the next two weeks, and I hope to do my best,” said Philem.
“I have been paddling for nine years, and I have been making improvements.
“This is really important.
“I am targeting qualifying for the Olympic Games and now we are preparing for the U23 Asian Championships.”
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Philem was making his second appearance at a World Cup having participated in Szeged last year, while Singh was making his debut at this level.
Singh made history in 2023 when they won India’s first Asian Games medal in canoeing since 1994 with bronze in the men’s C2 1000m.
“My performances have gone up since being here and my feelings are also so much better than before,” said Singh.
“I have been paddling for seven or eight years, and we have been paddling together for one year.
“We are improving so much and now in the TIP camp we are doing well and getting even better.
“My dream is to get a medal at the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup as well.
“I would love to qualify for Los Angeles.
“I will keep working hard so I can get there.”
ICF’s Global Lead: Flatwater Sebastian Cuattrin is leading the camp with the support of several top-class coaches.
As well as Singh and Philem, the other TIP athletes are Egypt’s Mohammed Abdelhamid Amr Mostafa, Hamza Sayed and Mohamed Gouda, Angola’s Cesar Fidalgo, Benilson Sanda, Domingos Pacavira, Fernandes Ngunza, Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Okuchukwu, Ibrahim Muhammed Isyaka, Eginum Prince and Sijuola Sunday Kolawole, Colombia’s Dairon Stiven Ardila Ardila, Sandra Lucia Scalia Castro and Arlin Yamith Pena Sanchez and Peru’s Jesus Canache, Silvano Vargas Kyara Leydi Helen and Max Henrry Chistama Grandez.
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