Former Australian kayaking champion Ian Vincent is now coaching youth athletes in Meghalaya, helping develop the region’s emerging canoeing and kayaking talent through a grassroots training programme based in India’s north-east.
Vincent, who represented Australia at international level in canoeing between 1980 and 1983, has spent nearly three decades in India after settling in Meghalaya in 1997. His move followed his marriage to Sheila Vincent, who is from Kerala, and he has since built a life around developing water sports in the hilly state.
Vincent is credited with introducing canoeing to Meghalaya and establishing a structured training system through the Meghalaya Canoe Association, which now supports around 25 young athletes.
He started the sport in the state 10 years ago. “We could only bring four students here for the first competition, but now we have around 25 participants,” Vincent told PTI last year while attending the Khelo India Water Sports Festival.
At a training base he established in Umtham village—known locally as Whitewater Village—Vincent currently coaches about 25 students, including his daughter Elizabeth, who has competed internationally.
Vincent has also been working with the Meghalaya government to develop a high-performance canoeing facility in Umtham ahead of the 2027 National Games, which the state will host.
The proposed centre is expected to support the development of elite-level athletes and strengthen India’s presence in international canoe slalom competition.
Vincent told local media that his family is deeply involved in the sport, with his wife serving as secretary of the Meghalaya Canoeing Association and his daughter competing at the Asian level.
“I’ve been here since 1997. So my roots are also in India now.”
His long-term presence has contributed to growing participation in canoeing in Meghalaya, a region with strong natural waterways but limited historical infrastructure for competitive water sports.
What began as a personal return to his sporting passion has evolved into a sustained effort to build an emerging talent pipeline for canoeing in India.
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