If you believe the sport of sailing is purely physical, where brawn scores over brain, it's time to rethink.
After the monsoon set in last year, the EME Sailing Association (EMESA), the Secunderabad Sailing Club (SSC) and the Andhra Pradesh Sports School joined hands in a venture that bodes well for the future of the Olympic sport. Six girls and five boys aged between nine and 14 years were picked from the last-named institution, located at Hakimpet.
Rigorous testing
The chosen 11 were short-listed after a rigorous scientific procedure that tested not only their physical but also their mental abilities/aptitudes too. It became evident that those hailing from the state's coastal districts showed better flair, familiar as they were with the ways of water and more importantly the sea.
The youngsters were fortunate to be placed in the hands of seasoned sailing hands D.P. Selvam and Dilip Kumar, the duo having established their credentials at national as well as international competition. Not surprisingly, the teenagers took to the sport like fish to water.
Such has been their progress that they can independently take out their boats and launch themselves, a task quite daunting even to adults, given the resistance from the water if not the wind, while taking care not to get grounded.
Standing out among these is Koteshwar Rao, who's breathing down the necks of the top trio in the club races that he's competed in.
Enthusiastic youngster
While Nagarjuna is another enthusiastic youngster to look out for, Leelavati among the girls is keen to participate in the 4.7 category of the Laser National championships, scheduled for the last fortnight of this month at the Hussain Sagar.
Working in the favour of this energetic bunch is the fillip given to the scheme by Mukesh Kumar Meena, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) and Dr. Narsaiah, the A.P. Sports School's Special Officer.
While the boats the children train on currently are provided by the EME Sailing Club, there are plans to allow them the use of those belonging to SAAP in the near future.
It will come as no surprise if the threesome of Koteshwar Rao, Nagarjuna and Leelavati make a splash in the forthcoming National event, if not the near future.
