national coach, Chacko Kandathil. They were put through a systematic pattern of training and the girls showed the greatest commitment. The efforts paid off, and for three years they emphatically dominated the women's rowing scene in the country, winning every national event during the period. In 1989 they were selected to represent India at the Asian Rowing Championships at Chandigarh, where they won two silver medals - lightweight and open. Later in 1990, they were again selected as the lightweight coxless four for the Asian Games, at Beijing. They thus became the first all-MBC crew to represent India. Their consistent performances earned them the shield for the 'Best team in Tamil Nadu' from the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalist's Association. The eighties saw a phenomenal growth in the activities of the club. The number of members grew. What was a mere seventy-five at the turn of the century was by the early eighties over a six-hundred. This called for better administration. Again contributions came from several members. Raja Bangara, who has been President of the club for eight years in the recent past, is one of the significant contributors. He steered the club to safe waters and in the matter of finance, stood it firmly on its two feet. Modern Era In the 1990s the club witnessed sweeping changes. The club acquired a number of modern facilities, and it is today proudly one of the best-equipped rowing clubs in the country. The club acquired a full complement of the latest boats and oars from U.S.A. Today, the club faces new challenges. The very survival of the sport is threatened by the condition of the Adyar river. Besides the unchecked pollution that has been taking place, the river stands so badly silted that the stretches of water available for training and racing is far from what is required. Dredging has not only become imperative but urgent. The club finds itself in a position, unable to sort out these problems by itself and requires the active help of the government. See also Rowing Federation of India (Excerpted from http://www.angelfire.com/id/mbc/main.html - an unofficial and now defunct website of Madras Boat Club) References Rowing clubs in India Sport in Chennai 1867 establishments in India Sports clubs established in 1867