Hyderabad Sailors Triumph at International Sailing

Ravi was amongst the lightest and physically diminutive and at just 34 kgs blasted thru the fleet in 15-20 knots of breeze and despite being a lake sailor for the most part battled the 2 metre monsoon waves in Chennai to claim the boys Bronze 

The international fleet consisted of top sailors from Sweden , Ireland, Malaysia, Srilanka , India , Seychelles and  Mauritius

The hallmark of Ravi Kumar's sailing is consistency and while clinching multiple 2nd’s and 3rd’s he remained above 5th across the regatta and powered the boat despite the rough conditions and his light weight to clinch his first International medal. 

Ravi Kumar studies at Udbhav School , having just  shifted from Nallakunta Government school. His father Bimesh Bonnelu  works as a skilled construction worker and mother Maheshwari is a domestic worker at three houses. Originally from Narayanpet Mahboobnagar district the family now lives near Paradise Secunderabad and also serve as caretakers of the building they are housed in. 

“I have no words to express my gratitude and its God’s grace that connected us to the Yacht Club of Hyderabad and now our Ravi is an International medallist . We are eagerly awaiting his return to Hyderabad tomorrow and we have multiple celebrations at the school , at the Yacht Club and at home for him. We are thankful for the able guidance of our Udbhav School and Suheim Sheikh his coach“, said a beaming Beemesh  and Maheshwari in a video conference 

“Nobody in our entire village or neighbourhood has represented India and Ravi at just 14 has already visited  6 countries . With our background we did not ever imagine this kind of life for him. With the help of Udbhav School we now want him to study and become a big officer“ , added a proud Beemesh 

Ravi Kumar has another year in the under 15 and is likely to be selected to multiple internationals including the Asian Beach games at Sanya China in April. Ravi has already travelled to Oman for the Asians, Malaysia and Singapore for Internationals but this is by far the cherry on the cake of his international participation .

“I was placed 4th till the last race and had to beat only one sailor by 2 positions to get a medal  and  I beat him by 6 positions in the last race to get bronze. I would like to thank my coach Suheim Sheikh for having trusted that I will do well despite my weight disadvantage in these heavy winds “ , said a proud Ravi Kumar .

Ravi is a veteran of multiple internationals having already represented  the Indian National squad at 6 countries Oman twice, , Langkawi twice, , Singapore and the Czech Republic.  

Another star from Hyderabad was Manideep Peerkatla of Rasooplura now sailing for the Army but from Hyderabad and an alumni of The Yacht Club who topped the under 18 fleet with a spectacular Gold medal . Manideep is the son of construction labour at Rasoolpura and joined the Army School at Mysore from the YCH 5 years ago. It was a clean sweep from India in the under 18 boys with all three medals 

In the Skiff Class Govardhan Pallara another stalwart from The Yacht Club of Hyderabad bagged the silver . “The medal tally of 3 for our YCH alumni at this international is unprecedented “, said Suheim Sheikh 

India’s Krishna Veniktachalam of Royal Madras Yacht Club clinched the Gold with a stunning 7 wins out of 10 races with 16 penalty points followed by Khairullilazani Afendy of Malaysia with 24 penalty points  and Ravi Kumar Benneolu at 32 penalty points 

There were 11 girls in the Indian fleet and Shringari Roy also of Hyderabad , a sailor from Secunderabad Club , sailed brilliantly to clinch the girls silver just two penalty points behind the Irish Phillipa Cox .

Shringari Roy was all set or gold but the unusual points system that she protested unfortunately reduced her to be content with the silver. Her technique and speed has dramatically improved thanks to a stint before the regatta at Chennai to get used to wind and water.  

Hyderabad gets a tally of One Bronze , Two silver and a Gold at an internationlal which is unprecedented.

A quadruple  International medal tally is a novelty for Hyderabad sailing and onwards  to Sanya for the Asian Beach Games in April where all 4 of them will proudly represent India again. 

Final points tally for the under 15 Single Hander 

Boys

Krishna Venkatichalam    IND    16 
Khairullilzani Afendy         MAS   24 
Ravi Kumar                         IND    32

Girls 

Phillips Cox           IRL   14 
Shringari Roy        IND   16
Lily Sheridan         IRL   26

Final points for the under 18  Boys

Manideep Peerkatla      IND 20
Ankit Singh Sisodia        IND 24
Rajveer Yadav                IND 27

Final points for the under 18  Girls 

Aashta Pandey    IND    13
Tulsi Patle             IND    14
Mahi Verma          IND    24

Final Points for the Junior Skiff 

Aakash Tangai             IND    8
Govardhan Pallara      IND   18