India created history at the 2026 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland, with Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh winning the country's first-ever gold medal at the prestigious event.
The Indian pair clinched the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls title on Saturday, finishing in 6:26.09 to edge Hong Kong, which clocked 6:27.14, and the Netherlands, which finished in 6:27.36.
It is India's maiden gold medal at any World Rowing Cup, one of the sport's premier international competitions, and a major lead-up event to the World Rowing Championships.
The gold medal-winning duo, Havildar Lakshay and Havildar Ujjwal Kumar Singh, are serving soldiers in the Indian Army.
The entire 18-member Indian contingent competing in Lucerne is drawn from the armed forces, comprising 17 athletes from the Indian Army and one from the Indian Navy.
Calling the achievement historic, Colonel Ramakrishnan, Commanding Officer of the Army Rowing Node, said the victory reflected years of hard work, discipline, and world-class training.
"This is a historic achievement for Indian rowing. Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh have won India's first-ever gold medal at a World Rowing Cup, showcasing the immense potential of our athletes," he said.
The three-day regatta is being held at the Rotsee in Lucerne, a venue regarded as one of the world's finest rowing courses because of its calm waters and Olympic-standard 2,000-metre, six-lane course.
The competition, held from June 26 to June 28, features Olympic and para-rowing events and contributes points towards the World Rowing Cup standings.