Rowing Empire: Dattu Baban Bhokanal and the Success Story of Ayodhya Rowing Club

Born into a poor farming family in a drought-prone area of Maharashtra, Dattu Bhokanal’s path to success was far from easy. After the untimely loss of his father, he worked tirelessly—digging wells and working night shifts at a petrol pump—to support his family. His life changed after joining the Indian Army, where his talent for rowing was recognized and nurtured at the Army Sports Institute, Pune. Through sheer determination, perseverance, and hard work, Dattu rose to the world stage, becoming a symbol of resilience and inspiration for countless aspiring athletes.

About Dattu Baban Bhokanal

• Full Name: Dattu Baban Bhokanal
• Occupation: Indian Rower
• Native Village: Talegaon, Tal. Nandgaon, Dist. Nashik, Maharashtra
• Service: Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) / Class One Officer (Chief Executive Sports Officer), Indian Army
• Training: Army Sports Institute, Pune

Major Achievements and Awards

• The Big Achievement of Dattu is he has won a Gold Medal in quadruple sculls at Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang 2018.
• He won two gold medals in the 2014 National Rowing Championships.
• Silver Medal in the men's single sculls event at the FISA Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta at Chung-ju in South Korea.
• He qualified for the Olympics after winning a silver medal in the men's single sculls event at the FISA Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Regattaa Chung-juin South Korea, where he clocked 7 minutes and 07.63 seconds
• He is the only Indian rower to qualify for the Rio Olympics and is only the ninth rower to represent India in the Olympics, Where he Clocked 6 min, 17.13 seconds.