Serguty at 12:11, 24 April 2026

2026-04-24T12:11:02Z

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{{Short description|Indian rower}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Balraj Panwar
| image =
| caption = Balraj Panwar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|07|26}}
| birth_place = [[Kaimla]], [[Karnal district]], [[Haryana]], India
| height =
| weight =
| headercolor = Gold
| sport = [[Rowing (sport)|Rowing]]
| occupation = [[Rower]]
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|India}}
| serviceyears = 2018–present
| rank = [[File:Naib Subedar - Naib Risaldar of the Indian Army.svg|25px]] [[Naib Subedar]]
}}
| coach = {{unbulleted list|Ismail Baig|[[Bajrang Lal Takhar]]}}
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country| {{IND}}}}
{{MedalSport| Men's single sculls [[rowing]] }} [[File:Rowing pictogram.svg|30px]]
{{MedalCount | total = yes
| Paris Olympics 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0
| World Asian and Oceanian Olympic | 0 | 0 | 1
| Asian Games 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0
| National Games | 1 | 0 | 0
| National rowing championships | 2 | 0 | 0
| Open Sprints National Rowing Championship | 0 | 0 | 1
}} {{MedalCompetition | [[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{Medal|23rd|[[2024 Summer Olympics|2024 Paris]]|[[Rowing at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[2024 World Asian and Oceanian Olympics regatta]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2024 World Asian and Oceanian Olympics regatta|2024 Korea]]|[[Rowing at 2024 World Asian and Oceanian Olympics regatta – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Games]]}}
{{Medal|4th|[[2022 Asian Games|2022 China]]|[[Rowing at 2022 Asian Games – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Rowing Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2025 Asian Rowing Championships|2025 Haiphong]]|[[Rowing at 2025 Asian Rowing Championships – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Rowing Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{Medal||2023 Switzerland|[[Rowing at 2023 World Cup – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{Medal||2024 Poland|[[Rowing at 2024 World Cup – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[National Games of India|National Games]]}}
{{Medal||[[2022 National Games of India|2022 Gujarat]]|[[Rowing at 2022 National Games – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2023 National Games of India|2023 Goa]]|[[Rowing at 2023 National Games – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | National Rowing Championship}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2023 National Rowing Championship|2023 Pune]]|[[Rowing at 2023 National Rowing Championship – Men's quadruple sculls|M4X]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2024 National Rowing Championship|2024 Pune]]|[[Rowing at 2024 National Rowing Championship – Men's singles scull|M1X]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Open Sprint National Rowing Championships|Open Sprint National Rowing Championship]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2024 Open Sprint National Rowing Championship|2024 Pune]]|[[Rowing at 2024 Open Sprint National Rowing Championship – Men's Single sculls|M1X]]}}
}}
'''Balraj Panwar''' (born 26 July 1999)<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Rowing - Balraj PANWAR |url=https://worldrowing.com/athlete/balraj-panwar?id=58979 |access-date=6 September 2024 |website=World Rowing |language=en}}</ref> is an Indian [[rower]] from [[Kaimla]], [[Haryana]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=21 April 2024 |title=Balraj Panwar, 25-year-old Indian army rower, makes history, secures India's first rowing quota for Paris Olympics |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/sports/balraj-panwar-25-year-old-indian-army-rower-makes-history-secures-indias-first-rowing-quota-for-paris-olympics/3463918/ |access-date=27 May 2024 |website=Financialexpress |language=en |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725183003/https://www.financialexpress.com/sports/balraj-panwar-25-year-old-indian-army-rower-makes-history-secures-indias-first-rowing-quota-for-paris-olympics/3463918/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He competes in the men's [[single scull]]s. He qualified to represent [[India at the 2024 Summer Olympics]] in [[Paris]] in the [[men's single sculls]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=21 April 2024 |title=Balraj Panwar secures India's first quota in rowing for Paris Olympics |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/balraj-panwar-secures-indias-first-quota-in-rowing-for-paris-olympics/article68090237.ece |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427073757/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/balraj-panwar-secures-indias-first-quota-in-rowing-for-paris-olympics/article68090237.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2024 |title=Balraj Panwar Secures India's First Quota in Rowing for Paris Olympics |url=https://www.news18.com/other-sports/balraj-panwar-secures-indias-first-quota-in-rowing-for-paris-olympics-8860453.html |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427073736/https://www.news18.com/other-sports/balraj-panwar-secures-indias-first-quota-in-rowing-for-paris-olympics-8860453.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/olympics/story/_/id/40659552/the-ms-dhoni-indian-rowing-balraj-panwar-aims-live-moniker-olympic-debut|title=The MS Dhoni of Indian rowing - Balraj Panwar aims to live up to moniker at Olympic debut|date=28 July 2024 |publisher=Espn}}</ref> and finished 23rd.

== Early life and education ==
Panwar was born in [[Kaimla]] village, [[Gharaunda]] subdivision, [[Karnal]], Haryana.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=22 April 2024 |title=From handling father's death to joining army for financial stability, Balraj Panwar, rowing's MS Dhoni, ready for Paris Olympics |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/balraj-panwar-ms-dhoni-india-rowing-paris-2024-olympics-9285028/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427073736/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/balraj-panwar-ms-dhoni-india-rowing-paris-2024-olympics-9285028/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His father Randhir Panwar died when he was 10 and his mother Kamala Panwar brought him up and four other siblings by doing odd jobs like picking vegetables, selling milk, working at construction sites or shred wheat.<ref name=":1" /> She also worked at a garment factory.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=24 September 2023 |title=Asian Games: Two Years Into Rowing, Balraj Wants to Win a Medal for His Mother |url=https://www.thequint.com/sports/asian-games/asian-games-two-years-into-rowing-balraj-panwar-wants-to-win-a-medal-for-his-mother |access-date=27 April 2024 |publisher=IANS |via=TheQuint |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427082733/https://www.thequint.com/sports/asian-games/asian-games-two-years-into-rowing-balraj-panwar-wants-to-win-a-medal-for-his-mother |url-status=live }}</ref> He is married and has one child. He joined [[Indian Army]] as a [[sepoy]] to support his family financially. He was first posted at the Bengal Engineering Group.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 April 2024 |title=Panwar wins bronze to confirm Paris berth |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/panwar-wins-bronze-to-confirm-paris-berth/articleshow/109485066.cms |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427073757/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/panwar-wins-bronze-to-confirm-paris-berth/articleshow/109485066.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> He is preparing for the Olympics at the Army Training Node at [[Pune]] from October 2021.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3"/> He is training under National coach Ismail Baig and 2008 Olympian [[Bajrang Lal Takhar]].<ref name=":1" />

== Career ==
Panwar won a bronze medal at the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualification rowing competition in [[Chungju]], South Korea on 21 April 2024 to book India's first Olympic quota in rowing for the 2024 Paris Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balraj Panwar seals India's first Paris Olympics quota in rowing |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-balraj-panwar-seals-india-s-first-paris-olympics-quota-in-rowing-3086312 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=DNA India |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427073758/https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-balraj-panwar-seals-india-s-first-paris-olympics-quota-in-rowing-3086312 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4"/> He was leading until the first 1600 metres in the 2 km race, but lost time in the last 500 metres. But his early lead helped him qualify for the Olympics.<ref name=":1" />

Earlier, he missed the bronze medal at the [[2022 Asian Games]]<ref name=":0" /> after qualifying for the final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2023 |title=Asian Games 2023: Rower Balraj Panwar advances to men's single scull Final |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2023/story/asian-games-2023-rowing-bajaj-panwar-mens-singles-scull-2439101-2023-09-22 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427073757/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2023/story/asian-games-2023-rowing-bajaj-panwar-mens-singles-scull-2439101-2023-09-22 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a second reserve, he was a last-minute participant at the Asian Games.<ref name=":1" /> He also took part in the World Championship at [[Switzerland]] before Asian Games in July 2023.<ref name=":3" /> In the army, he was picked up for rowing because of his 6-foot height and winning the battalion regatta in his first attempt.<ref name=":3" /> Earlier, he took part in the 2022 National Games and 2023 National Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 July 2023 |title=Rookie rower Balraj looks forward to WC exposure before Asiad test |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2023/Jul/04/rookie-rower-balraj-looks-forward-to-wc-exposure-before-asiad-test-2591072.html |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728080150/https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2023/Jul/04/rookie-rower-balraj-looks-forward-to-wc-exposure-before-asiad-test-2591072.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Panwar won the gold medal at the 2025 Asian Rowing Championships in [[Hai Phong]], [[Vietnam]], in the men’s single scull (M1X) event.<ref name=”Kumaraswamy_2025”>{{cite news |last1= Kumaraswamy|first1= K |title=Asian Rowing Championships: Balraj Panwar's gold caps India's campaign |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/asian-rowing-championships-balraj-panwars-gold-caps-indias-campaign/articleshow/124698609.cms |date=20 October 2025|access-date=22 October 2025 |publisher=Times of India}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons}}
{{Instagram|id=balraj_rowing|name=Balraj Panwar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panwar, Balraj}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male rowers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Haryana]]
[[Category:People from Karnal district]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic rowers for India]]
[[Category:1999 births]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 2022 Asian Games]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen]]

Balraj Panwar - Revision history

Serguty at 12:11, 24 April 2026