Megha Pradeep
Megha Pradeep (born 8 February 2005) is an Indian canoeist from Kerala.[1] She represents India in the Women's Canoe Singles 200 metres (C-1 200m), Mixed Canoe Doubles 500m (C-2 500m) and Women's Canoe Doubles 500 (C-2 500m) at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.[2] She entered the semifinals in the women's singles 200m heats finishing fifth.[3][4][5]
Early life
[edit]Megha is from Puthenkalathil, Kuttanad in Alappuzha district, Kerala. She is the daughter of N Pradeep and Sreekala. In 2015, she took up Canoeing in Class 5 at the age of 10 years, and joined the Sports Authority of India training centre in Alappuzha in 2017.[6] She is the first Indian female canoeist to join the Indian Army. She joined through Agnipath scheme and is ranked Havildar.[7][8]
Career
[edit]At the Asian Games Canoe Sprint test event in 2026, she won a gold medal in 500 m singles and silver in 500 m doubles at Canoe Sprint at Miyoshi city, Japan.[6]
In 2025, she became the first Indian woman to enter the finals of a 500 m singles at the Under-23 World Championship in Portugal. In 2024, Megha won a bronze medal in the women's women's singles C1 500m race in the Asian Canoe Sprint Championship at Tokyo.[9] In 2023, she won a silver at the 2023 Junior Asian Championships.[7] In 2023, she also represented India in women's C4 500m and finished 10th at the World Chamionships in Duisburg, Germany.[1]
In October 2023, she reached the semifinals of the women's canoe single 200m sprint event at the 2022 Asian Games but could only finish fourth clocking 55.406 seconds.[10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Canoe Sprint PRADEEP Megha - The 19th Asian Games". www.ocagames.com. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "Asian Games 2026: Full schedule, India's contingent, venues and medal hopes; all you need to know". The Times of India. 18 September 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ Fatima, Uzma (23 September 2026). "Asian Games 2026 Canoe Sprint Results: India Men's K4 Team Reaches Final A; Megha Pradeep Advances To Women's Singles 200m Semifinals". The Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "India women's skeet team make Asian Games podium after bagging bronze medal finish". First Post. 23 September 2026. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "Asian Games 2026: What Went Right for India and What Went Wrong for Manu Bhaker?". Open Magazine. 23 September 2026. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- 1 2 Gopi, Vinod (2 September 2026). "Three oarswomen from Kerala to hunt medals for India in Asian Games". On Manorama. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Army's First Woman Canoeist Megha Wins Historic Int'l Gold". WomenEntrepreneursReview.com. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "Megha Pradeep: అద్దె బోటు నుంచి... అంతర్జాతీయ స్థాయికి". EENADU (in Telugu). 22 May 2026. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ Nalwala, Ali Asgar (19 April 2024). "Asian Canoe Sprint Championships 2024: Megha Pradeep opens India's tally with bronze medal". Olympics. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "Sonia Devi reaches final of women's kayak single 500, Megha crashes out". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2026.