The sailor girls; Meet the girls who made waves at the recently-concluded Monsoon Regatta

It is a proven fact that children who play sports have good management abilities and concentration levels. Balancing sports and academics together is a challenging job and today we have children who are excelling in sports and also doing well in their studies. We met some kids who have proved their expertise in sailing and also are doing well in their academics.

11-year-old Juhi Desai, who started her career in sailing when she was just eight years, stood in the tenth position among 47 kids in the Monsoon Regatta that happened recently. She also won the silver medal in the national level family championship this year at the said event. On asking why she chose sailing, Juhi says, “Sailing is a unique sport and I enjoy it. It is exciting and at the same time prepares me to face all kinds of situations and conditions.” Juhi wants to be a doctor and says that she is motivated by her principal, parents and friends. She also loves cycling in her leisure and manages her studies well along with the sport.

Gauri Agarwal, a Class XI student at FITJEE, who won the silver medal in the National level Sailing competition Laser 4.7 last year has plans to participate in the same category in the competition to be held on July 15 in Hyderabad. She has also won the best debutante award at the Indian International Regatta in Chennai.Gauri learns Kuchipudi in her free time and wants to become a computer engineer in the future. She is passionate about sailing and enjoys multitasking. When asked how Gauri manages her daily schedule, her mom says, “Sailing can be called water chess since you have to tackle the wind, water and manage the boat by creating a balance. It builds up confidence levels and improves concentration, which in turn helps in her studies”.

“Sports are very important and everyone should pursue some sport or the other. It is a bit difficult to manage school and sailing together but once in a week I take off from sailing and have enough of rest. I don’t compromise on my sleeping time,” says Ananya Chauhan another sailor, who is studying Class XII. Ananya won the best girl sailor’s award at the National Inland Optimist Championship and Topper National Championship held in Hyderabad. Her day begins with an exercise session at the gym followed by school and then a practice session. Ananya plays table tennis, chess and also paints. “Becoming a doctor is my ambition and I will also pursue sailing simultaneously, I have high energy food and drink glucose drinks to keep myself hydrated”, says Ananya. She has been part of many championships and is aiming for Asian Games, Olympics 2020. She is Best Girl Sailor for Optimist (a class of boat), and has also won a bronze medal in the Omega Family Championship held as part of Monsoon Regatta held recently in Hyderabad.

“It is tough to manage things since Drishya is in Class XI and also sailing is a time consuming task but not impossible. You got prioritise things, decide what to do in the extra time and focus on it fully. Time management is very important,” says Drishya’s mother. Drishya wakes up at four in the morning goes to school takes her tuitions and goes for sailing practice. She is good at studies and is a hard worker. As she loves sailing she is ready to do anything for it, when you have love and passion everything falls in place. “Since sailing needs lots of stamina I give her protein-rich food like egg, non-veg, sprouts and also a protein shake,” says her mother.