Indian Army’s first woman Canoeist Megha Pradeep wins India’s first international gold in canoeing
Indian Army canoeist. Image courtesy: @adgpi
The first woman canoeist in the Indian Army to win gold at an international event, Havildar Megha Pradeep, has scripted history by clinching two gold medals in the C1 200m and C1 500m events and a silver in the C2 500m category at the 2026 Canoe Sprint Asian Games test event in Miyoshi City.
The event is a key qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Japan, in which around 45 countries will participate.
Havildar Megha’s achievement marks a significant milestone as she became the first female athlete to be recruited into the Army’s Kayak and Canoe Node after women were allowed entry into the rank and file under the Agnipath Scheme in 2022, according to a post shared by the Indian Army on the social media platform X.
According to information from the Army, she earlier won a bronze medal in the women’s C1 500m event at the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championship in Tokyo.
She also made history at the 2025 U23 World Championships in Portugal by being the first Indian woman to make it to the C1 500m final. She finished 17th, which was a big step forward for Indian canoeing on the world stage.
Other Army paddlers also delivered strong performances. Naib Subedar Sunil Singh won gold in both the C1 200m and C1 500m events, and Subedar Raju Rawat won silver in the C2 500m category.
The athlete trained at the Army Kayaking and Canoeing Node managed by the Bengal Engineer Group and centered in Uttarakhand.
What is Canoe Sprint?
Canoe sprint is a high-intensity disciplined sports that demands a rare combination of endurance, balance, and strength. In C1 events, one athlete kneels in an open canoe and paddles on one side.
Meanwhile, in C2 events, two paddlers are working in perfect synchronisation.
It is also important to know the difference between canoeing and kayaking. Canoes are open and use a single-bladed paddle, while kayaks are closed-deck boats with double-bladed paddles.
Indian women paddlers rise
Havildar Megha’s success comes at a time when Indian women are becoming more interested in paddle sports. For example, Oinam Binita Chanu won gold at the 2025 Canoe Sprint International President Cup, and Prachi Yadav won gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games.
