File Pic: Balraj Panwar (AP/PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Uneasiness is brewing in India's rowing camp ahead of the start of the Asian Games competition on Wednesday, with several rowers expressing unhappiness over last-minute changes to crew combinations and event entries. Some athletes have alleged that they were shifted from their original events while reserve rowers were brought into first-team combinations following a meeting of team managers on Monday.

The developments have left some members of the squad "very disturbed", according to a rower who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity." Some rowers have not taken food yet as they are in a disturbed state of mind.

They are not knowing what to do," the rower told PTI on Monday. An official tracking the developments within the rowing team also confirmed that some athletes were struggling to deal with the changes."

It is very sad, but things are not rosy in the rowing team," the official said. Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medal TallyRowers upset over last-minute changesAs per reports, the 2022 Asian Games silver medallist Arvind Singh, who was originally scheduled to compete in the single sculls, has been moved to the quadruple sculls.

Balraj Panwar, who was part of the quadruple sculls combination, is set to compete in the single sculls instead. Saurav Kumar and Vipul Satish, who were to form the first-choice men's pair, are set to be replaced by Nitin Kumar and Jaswinder Singh.

Reserve rower Jasmail Singh is also set to be included in the coxless four. Navdeep Singh and Kulwinder Singh are expected to move from the double sculls to the quadruple sculls.

A senior rowing official said 50 per cent of a crew can be changed in case of a medical emergency, while athletes have questioned the scale of the changes made this time. “We are going by what our manager has told us.

“It has brought a lot of pressure and anxiety. I couldn’t sleep last night, I was very disturbed.

A crew combination is set for six months or one year. We have been practising for long, and when it is changed one day before such a big competition, the athlete gets disturbed mentally.

Crew combination is important in rowing. Someone who is not in quad (quadruple) for six months, what is he going to achieve in one day?”

Management cites shortened programmeThe rowing management, however, has defended the changes, saying they were necessitated by the shortened competition schedule after heavy rains. “Due to the shortened regatta programme, I as the chief coach has made the decision to focus on possible medals, not individual comfort of athletes,” Patterson said on Monday.