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South-East Asian Sailing Championship in Oct
AFTER THE huge success of Asian Kayaking and Canoeing championship in 2003, the MP Sports and Youth Welfare department will organise South-East Asian Sailing Championship at Water Sports Centre of Upper Lake sometime in October this year.
AFTER THE huge success of Asian Kayaking and Canoeing championship in 2003, the MP Sports and Youth Welfare department will organise South-East Asian Sailing Championship at Water Sports Centre of Upper Lake sometime in October this year. This is the biggest-ever sailing championship to be organised in the City.
The idea of organsing the S-E Asian Sailing Championship came when commander Ravi Ahuja and captain Monti Khanna of National Sailing Club, Mumbai, visited the Water Sports Centre a few weeks ago. Both evinced keen interest in organsing international sailing championship later this year, sources added.
Sailing in Bhopal has become quite popular after construction of water sports centre at the Upper Lake. It was inaugurated in May 2003. Apart from kayaking and canoeing, the department has shown special interest in sailing category.
The national sailing in 1999 and DG EME sailing trophy in 2005 evoked good response from spectators too. Even the Asian gold medallist Rajesh Chaudhary, who participated in the DG EME sailing trophy, lauded the ideal features of the Upper Lake and good infrastructure of sailing at the Water Sports Centre.
Regarding the S-E Asian Sailing Championship, Director, Sports Sanjay Chaudhary said that the championship is to be organised this year. “After the meeting of Yachting Association of India (YAI), the exact dates will be finalized,” said the director.
Besides, a national sailing school is to be opened in May. According the sources, tender for buying boats for sailing will be finalised by April 12. Some 50 students will get training in one batch. The national sailing school will be second after the national sailing school of Mumbai that will impart training to the students in every aspect of sailing.
“The target of the national sailing school will be the school level students,” said water sports centre in-charge Jalaj Chaturvedi.
