It took the efforts of C.P.S. Deo, President of Rowing Federation of India, to come to the rescue of the Indian rowing contingent already in Guangzhou (China) for the Asian Games.
Originally, the boats imported from Italy for the Asiad got stuck for want of customs clearance at the Hyderabad Airport for seven days because of the language problem in deciphering the terms and conditions.
For the record, India won two silver and a bronze from the four events it participated in in the Doha Asian Games and this time around it will be competing in nine events.
“They were cleared only yesterday night. But by that time, in view of the importance of the Asian Games, I already had a contingency plan and was successful in ensuring that alternative boats reached the Indian squad there,” Deo informed The Hindu .
“The whole delay with the original consignment was because of the procedural delays,” he added.
“I had to intervene and speak to the Army officials in Pune to arrange four German-made boats as the alternative and I am happy that they, along with the four which we had here (bought for the 2002 National Games), arrived in China last night,” Mr. Deo informed The Hindu .
