PANAJI: Goa Yachting Association (GYA) under the aegis of Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and in collaboration with National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) Goa, organised the Goa State Sailing Championship 2021 recently at Dolphin Adventure Sports, Hawaii beach, Dona Paula. Windsurfers competed in the RS:X and Raceboard category and the junior and sub-junior sailors in Optimist category.
Pleasant windy conditions on all three days of the championship, ensured ideal race setting for all sailors.
Dayne Coelho of GYA started strongly with all 3 guns on the first day and finished strong with all guns on the last day to win the gold medal in the RS:X men’s category. Imtizulu and NS Rawat of INWTC, Goa, clinched silver and bronze medal respectively with consistent performances in all the races.
In the Raceboard Open category, Katya Coelho of GYA who is making a comeback after her injury at the Asian Games in 2018; clinched gold medal ahead of Pearl Colvalcar (GYA) with silver, and Adarsh Chunekar (GYA) picking up a bronze medal.
In the Optimist junior boys category, the Navy Boys School Company, Verem, (NBSC) made a clean sweep with gold medal going to Vikram Singh Bhati, silver to M. Vikram and bronze to Karralla Karthik. In the Optimist junior girls category, Maithilee of GYA clinched gold medal.
In the Optimist sub-junior boys category, there was tough compition with the top 3 seperated by only 1 point each at the end of Day 1. Nine-year old Kalyan Kohli was in the lead with 2 guns, Tanmay Chunekar was close behind with 1 gun and Samik Satardekar in hot pursuit in 3rd place. The final day results brought them even closer with Tanmay Chunekar finally managing to clinch the gold ahead of Kalyan Kohli with silver and Samik Satardekar, who had to settle for a bronze medal.
Prof. Sutheeshna Babu, Nodal Officer of NIWS-Goa was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.
