The Army Rowing Node (ARN) at the College of Military Engineering (CME) in Pune received the World Rowing “Programme of the Year” 2025 award. The award was given at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland on January 24, 2026. Col. R Ramakrishnan, Commanding Officer of ARN, received the award on behalf of the programme. India Rowing president Balaji Maradappa was present at the ceremony.
The award was presented after ARN’s programme was evaluated alongside entries from France and the United Kingdom. ARN was recognised for its role in the development of the sport of rowing.
Army Rowing Node (ARN) Overview
The Army Rowing Node was established in 2001 and is part of the Indian Army’s Mission Olympics Wing (MOW). ARN was created to support the development of rowing and to improve India’s competitive presence in the sport.
The rowing facility includes a man-made rowing channel that measures 2,200 metres in length and 135 metres in width, built to international standards. The facility is used for training rowers and hosting rowing competitions. At any given time, between 60 and 90 rowers train at the centre.
ARN is the only facility in India capable of hosting international rowing competitions. It conducts training activities under the Mission Olympics Wing, which was started in 2001 under the Directorate General of Military Training.
Construction and Development
Rowing training at the Army Rowing Node began initially near the Mula–Mutha River. In 2005, the Indian Army began building a permanent rowing facility at the CME campus in Pune. The official commissioning of the rowing channel occurred in 2009, after which ARN moved to its current location.
Performance and Achievements
Athletes trained at ARN have won medals in national and international rowing events. According to available reporting, ARN rowers have won more than 590 medals at national events and 129 medals at international competitions. The centre has produced 15 Arjuna Award recipients, 2 Dronacharya Award recipients, 1 Padma Shri awardee, 2 Dhyan Chand Award recipients, and 11 Olympians.
At the 2023 Asian Games, the Indian rowing team was reported to consist entirely of athletes affiliated with the armed forces and won five medals, including two silver medals.
World Rowing Award Context
The World Rowing “Programme of the Year” award was instituted to recognise programmes that contribute to the expansion and development of rowing internationally. ARN’s nomination and award suggest recognition by World Rowing for its contribution to the sport’s growth.