One of the two Indian Naval Academy (INA1) team won the second edition of the Admiral's Cup International Sailing regatta which concluded at the INA at Ezhimala here on December 12 evening.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) tram came second and the INA2 won the third place. Cadet Nitin Prakash of the INA stood first in the individual positions followed by cadet Khalil Al Asam of Egypt Navy and cadet Akshit Kaushal of the INA in the second and third position respectively.
The waters off the Ettikulam Bay at Ezhimala witnessed a total of eight races run from December 10 to 12. Twenty five international trainees displayed their 'watermanship' skills whist pitted against each other in their individual Laser class boats over the past three days. In all 12 teams participated, with each team fielding two boats.
The Indian Navy instituted the ADMIRAL'S CUP as a 'match race' in 'Laser' class of sail boats, each a single crew Olympic class boat, for strengthening ties through Navy to Navy and Academy to Academy links, a press release here said. Naval Academies of friendly foreign countries across the world were invited to send their trainee naval officers to participate in the event. Teams from various parts of the world participated. They represented nine different navies including Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Maldives, UAE, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the United Kingdom. As hosts, the Indian Navy fielded three teams, two from the INA and one from the Naval Engineering College, Lonavala. Each team was represented by two boats. The participants included two women officers, one each from the Sri Lankan Navy and the INA.
Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Commandant, INA, while presenting prizes, emphasised the importance of continuing to build bridges of friendship through events such as these. He added that Indian Naval Academy looks forward to participation by a larger number of maritime nations and Naval Academies in the coming years, especially enhanced participation by woman trainees so as to enable a separate category of racing for them.
