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| Edited By: Shanaya Lalkaka |Source: |Updated: Nov 21, 2013, 01:44 PM IST
India’s first all women’s sailing teams are set to create waves in the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals Asia 2008 today
l_shanaya@dnaindia.net
Anyone can be a sailor…a student, a filmmaker or even a homemaker…such is the wide range of women competing in the first ever all women’s sailing teams (ranging from ages 16 to their early 30s) at the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals, Asia 2008.
“Participants from countries from the Asian subcontinent like Pakistan, Thailand, Bahrain and India comprise the eight teams participating in this amateur racing circuit, of which the winners will move to the finals in Brazil (in February next year),” explains Arjuna awardee and Asian games medalist Aashim Mongia, one of the founders of the event.
“There are different kinds of sailing. This particular race is based on how we best transfer our body weight to gain maximum advantage from the wind,” says skipper Pallavi Naik (Mumbai) who is geared up for the three day sailing challenge that runs from 15 to 18 October, just off Mumbai’s Chowpatty shoreline. Her crew comprises of Rohini Rau (Chennai), Alykhya Sudam (Hyderabad) and Tulsi Chauhan (Mumbai). All of them are in agreement when speaking of the common misunderstanding that most folks have towards their sport. “People ask me how my rowing classes are going sometimes,” quips Rohini adding, “They think it’s just a hobby.” With due support coming in from the Indian Navy, this expensive sport has been made accessible over the past few years. As participant Dhanya Pilo puts it, “It is an easy sport to get attracted to, even though it is the second most expensive in the world. We are lucky to be provided with free training and equipment.” Skipper Ayesha Lobo (Mumbai), who takes lead over Dhanya and teammates Tara Mati (Mumbai) and Damini Sood (Delhi) snaps it into perspective, “Sailing only requires common sense.”
Ever since the announcement of Match Racing, being included as an official event at the 2012 Olympics, these few professional women sailors have been training hard, pushing themselves towards that much coveted gold!
