Girish Phadnis: A Lifelong Passion for Rowing 

In 1976, a young and promising rower named Girish Phadnis joined the Calcutta Rowing Club (CRC), thanks to the encouragement of our First Indian Captain and Past President late Kalyan Ghosh. This marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey for Girish, who has dedicated over 50 years to a sport that has been his lifelong passion.

Girish's rowing career began in 1970 at the Bengal Rowing Club when he was just 12 years old. He was often seen alongside his elder brother, Milind, and together they became known as the "Chote-Mote Pair." Their first taste of international competition came in 1973 at the ARAE Regatta in Colombo, where Girish stood out as the youngest rower in the ARAE, and they were the youngest pair.

From 1973 onward, Girish's sporting career was marked by numerous victories and course records that endured for years. He represented National High School in the Inter-School Regatta for three consecutive years, and his name is etched on every trophy at both the Bengal Rowing Club and the Calcutta Rowing Club.

In 1977, during the first National Rowing Championship, Girish, still eligible for junior events, served as the stroke for the winning senior fours team representing Bengal. This achievement solidified his reputation as one of the finest strokes produced on Indian waters, renowned for his legendary sculling abilities and exceptional course-keeping skills.

 

As an accomplished rower, Girish achieved numerous victories at both national and international levels. His success inspired younger athletes and raised the profile of Indian rowing.

 

A mariner by profession, Girish spent 23 years at sea, serving as a captain for a decade. Even while sailing, he remained committed to rowing, participating in regattas in Kolkata whenever he returned. Remarkably, he often won events—whether in sculls, pairs, or fours—despite limited practice. Over his career, he secured victories in state championships and club regattas more than a dozen times, including wins in the Wellington Fours and Venable Pairs, and finishing in the top positions in the Macklin Sculls on eight occasions.

In 1982, Girish proudly represented India at the Asian Games in the pairs event, where he reached the finals four.

Girish Married Kiran in 1987 and 3 days after their marriage the couple along with Class mate Mr S R Kalidas left for Kerala where they won the Pairs event representing Bengal at the National Games held in Alleppey, Kiran has been his inspiration and support all through the years and without which he could not have succeeded in following up with his passion for Rowing and sports.

In 2000, Captain Girish Phadnis returned to shore after 23 years at sea. Despite his maritime career, his passion for rowing remained unwavering. In 2016, he introduced the first Indoor Rowing Championship for the Rowing Federation of India. Professionally, he climbed the ranks to become the Managing Director of shipping companies, holding that responsibility for 20 years, while also serving as Chairman of MASSA, the largest maritime association in the region.

His achievements reflect not only his skill and dedication as a rower but also his significant contributions to the sport's and its development even at the International level.

2000 – 2002 – Treasurer of WBRA

2002- 2004 - Secretary of WBRA and Captain of Calcutta Rowing Club.

2004 – Competition Director Asian Rowing Championship

2004 – 2006 President of WBRA and Vice President of Bengal Olympic Association

2008- 2016 Associated Vice president Rowing Federation of India

2010 – Asian Games China Manager and team leader of the Indian Rowing Contingent

2016– 2020 Secretary General of Rowing Federation of India

2018 – 2020 Committee member of the Commonwealth Rowing Association

2017– 2021 Chairman “Rowing For all “Asian Rowing Federation

2022 – Present President of Yachting Association of Maharashtra

As a committee member of the Commonwealth Rowing Association and Chairman of the "Rowing for All" in the Asian Rowing Federation, Girish has advocated for inclusivity and growth in the sport, helping to expand its reach and accessibility.

Girish Phadnis's multifaceted contributions have not only advanced his own career but have also played a crucial role in nurturing and promoting the sport of rowing in India, making him a significant figure in its history. Currently, Girish is focused on establishing coastal rowing and sailing in Mumbai, which aims to broaden the scope of rowing in India and promote it as a recreational and competitive sport.

Through his sports management company, K2K Sports, Girish along with his wife Kiran continues to organize events and initiatives that promote rowing and other sports, contributing to the overall development of athletics in India. 

Sumant Dev Dumra represented INDIA in the Asian Games