TN sailors bag prizes in sailing

Chennai, Oct 23 (UNI) Tamil Nadu sailors had a profitable outing at the National Inland Optimist Championships held at Khadakavasala by the CEMESA under the aegis of the National Optimist Association of India and Yachting Association of India.

In the national fleet, out of a contingent of ten sailors, which constituted more than one third of the fleet at the Nationals, Tamil Nadu sailors cornered seven positions within the top ten.

Varun Thakkar, a student of Lady Andal School, Chennai finished second in the fleet and stood first in the under-12 event thereby winning the Chougule plate for best Optimist sailor.

It may be noted that ever since the TNSA competed in the Optimist class the under-12 Trophy had been won by Tamil Nadu.

Varun Takkar had recently gone to Singapore for training and had participated in the monthly medal cup at the Singapore Armed Forces Club. He won the third prize.

Varun won the first place in the sixth race and was one of the two participants who completed the seventh race out of the 29 starters.

In the regatta, sailors from Tamil Nadu cornered three positions within the top five and five positions within the top ten.

Kumaresan Selvan, who is one of the four entries from TNSA-SDAT's sailing Programme of Tamil Nadu (SPOT), finished first in the fleet.

Pratap and Praveen also of the SPOT came third and fifth respectively.

UNI GV JJ DH BD1931