Youngsters Shiv Rekhi and Ankit George Vivish are making a splash in the sporting world, and literally too! Back after competing at the 420 World Championships, as one of the only two teams from India, the school-going sailors spoke about their passion for the sea, sailing and school at the “This is Life” event organised by Scullers.
Fitness and training
A Std XI student of Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao MHSS, Chennai, Shiv took to sailing like fish to water, as his father and grandfather were sailing enthusiasts too. It was his exciting stories about the sport that made Ankit want to give it a try, and there was no looking back. Friends for a long time, and in the same school and class, their camaraderie and teamwork shows during sailing too, they say.
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“Fitness has to be right for sailing. We train for about two to three hours after school and for an average of six hours during the weekends,” says Ankit.
Isn’t it hard to balance school and sailing? Shiv has the answer: “It’s all about time management. In fact, Ankit’s the drummer and I am the bass guitarist for the school band and have to make time for band practice too. So on Tuesdays and Thursdays we don’t sail and instead concentrate on other activities.”
Speaking about the status of sailing in India, they say that it is not given much importance here. While even in a national level they compete with a fleet of maximum 60 boats, their counterparts abroad train with at least 200. “We lack in terms of publicity, good equipment and sponsorship,” they feel.
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But that has not stopped this Under-19 #2-ranked duo from aiming for the 2014 Asian Games. Here’s wishing them a splashing success!