For Samara Antony Chacko, kayaking is about far more than racing against the clock – it is a chance to represent India on the world stage, raise the profile of the sport at home, and inspire the next generation.
Chacko first discovered paddling while she was involved in swimming as a child.
A recommendation from her father’s friend introduced her to kayaking, and the sport immediately captured her interest.
“I enjoyed it from the very first session,” said Chacko.
“That made me more interested in kayaking, and since then I changed my sport and have continued pursuing it seriously.”
Now, as a 21-year-old, her desire comes from where the sport can take her.
“My main inspiration is to create a change for athletes in my country and also change the outlook towards kayaking in India,” she said.
“I want to show that we can make it to the world stage and even reach the podium.
“Representing India is a huge honour for me because representing my country is a matter of pride.
“The sport is also improving a lot in India, and we are gradually performing better on the world stage.”
As an athlete from an emerging kayaking nation, Chacko credits International Canoe Federation’s Development Camps across the globe, which have been instrumental in her progress.
“The development camps are very important for athletes like me,” she said.
“Back home, I sometimes struggle with limited facilities, but here I can see the level of support and professionalism, and it clearly reflects in my performance on the water.”
That improvement has been reflected directly in her results. During her first camp in Montemor, Samara recorded a 500m time of 2:23.00, and by her final camp in China, she had lowered it to 2:10.00.
Looking to the future, Samara has her sights set firmly on the highest level of the sport.
“My aspirations are to compete at the 2028 and 2032 Olympics, represent India proudly at world championships, and continue improving as an athlete,” she added.
“I also hope to inspire more young girls in India to take up kayaking and believe that they can succeed in this sport on the world stage.”
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