6 Sailors out of total 10 players representing Indian team at The Asian and Oceanian Sailing Championships at Oman from Telangana Oman Asians

Hyderabad, October 2, 2019: The Asian and Oceanian Sailing championships commence today at the Mussannah Bay in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. 21 countries from the Asian and Ocenian regions will participate to decide the Asian Champion and the Ocenian Champion in one single Regatta. India has fielded 10 participants of which a straight six are from Telangana all students of the Yacht Club of Hyderabad. The girls from Hyderabad Preethi, Lakshmi and Jhansi Priya reached the venue with their coach a week in advance to acclimatise and get used to the local conditions and were joined by the rest of the Indian squad on the 28th . Countries with large contingents include Australia, Hongkong, New Zealand and Japan and of course the largest contingent is from the host nation Oman and given their local experience are also the favourites. The conditions so far have been mixed with days of light breezes and some days gusting to 15 knots whole the seas have been choppy but with low swell. India’s Preethi Kongara from Hyderabad was putting up a spirited performance during practice and with having won the recently concluded Monsoon Regatta is all set to storm the podium if she manages to get to grips with the conditions. “We have come here with limited expectations and with the simple intention to give it our best shot “, said coach Suheim Sheikh who is accompanying the contingent at Oman. “Just carrying the Indian Flag during the march past has been an overwhelming experience and has added fire to give in my best performance “ , said a beaming Preethi Kongara at the opening . The Championship is being organised by the International Optimist Dinghy Association and is being hosted by Oman Sail.