In the first historic match for India, the pair of Vishnu Saravanan and Ganapathi Chengappa and Varun Thakkar took on four sailors of the country in this year’s Olympics after they were cut for Tokyo in the Asian qualifiers in Oman on Thursday. It became the first Indian female sailor to qualify for the Olympics in the Laser Radial event at the Musna Open Championship after Netra Kumannan on Wednesday, which is an Asian Olympic qualifying event. This is the first time India will compete in three sailing events at the Olympics.
Until now, India had competed in only one competition in all the earlier Olympics, although two sailors had represented the country on four occasions.
Yacht Association of India Joint General Secretary Captain Jitendra Dixit said, “Yes, history has been scripted. Four Indian sailors have competed in the Olympics to compete in three events.”
“Nithra already qualified for Vishnu on Wednesday and today and then the pair of Ganapathi and Varun made it.”
On Thursday, Saravanan was the first to qualify for the Tokyo Games in the Laser Standard class after finishing second in the first standings.
Later, the pair of Chenppa and Thakkar topped the points table in the 49ers category. Both of them won bronze at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
“I congratulate Indian athletes Nethra Kumman, KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in sailing. I am particularly proud of Netra’s quota, India’s first female prisoner to qualify for the Olympics. Huh!” Tweeted Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.
The two sailors form a team at the 49ers while the laser class is a single sailor event.
In addition, two sailors qualify for the Tokyo Olympics from laser class events while only one team in the 49er class can do so.
Saravanan finished third on the day of austerity on Wednesday, but rose to second place with 53 points after winning a medal on Thursday and booked the Tokyo Olympic quota.
“Our athletes are making an impression in all disciplines!” Rijiju said.
The Indian beat Thailand’s Kirati Bualong (57 points), who was in second place for the Tokyo Games as of Wednesday.
In the laser standard class table, Singapore’s Ryan Lo Jun Han (31 points) was first.
Dixit said, “As of Wednesday, Vishnu was third after the Thai sailor. However, Vishnu finished first in both the medal races and naturally he was above the Thai sailor.”
“Two sailors qualify for the Olympics in the laser class and Vishnu finished second. The Singapore sailor was above Vishnu before today and therefore Vishnu could not displace him (from the top position).”
Kumaran finished sixth in the Laser Radial class medal race on Thursday, but finished second with 30 points to confirm the Olympic spot.
Dutchwoman Emma Sevalon (29 points), who finished fourth in the medal race on Thursday, topped the standings but cannot be considered for the Asian qualifying spot.
Stephanie Norton of Hong Kong, who finished third overall.
There are four examples of two Indian sailors qualifying for the first Olympics, but they competed in the same event.
Promoted
The Indian duo of Farooq Tarapore and Dhruv Bhandari competed in the 470 class at the 1984 Olympics. Tarapore and Kelly Rao participated in the same event at the 1988 Games.
Tarapore – in their third Olympics – and Cyrus Cama competed in the same 470 class at the 1992 Barcelona Games, before Malav Shroff and Sumit Patel competed in the 49er class skiff at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
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