Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre: In a landmark moment for Indian sailing, Mumbai’s Zahaan Hemrajani has secured a top-10 overall position in the prestigious U17 O’pen Skiff World Championships, which ended in Nishinomiya, Japan, on Wednesday. His outstanding result marks one of the best-ever finishes by an Indian sailor at this global youth event.
The championship, which was organized by the International O’pen Skiff Association, is a recognized youth class under World Sailing — the global governing body for the sport — and was held from July 17 to 23.
Zahaan’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. After being forced to sit out the first six races due to equipment malfunctions, the teenager from Mumbai staged a phenomenal comeback. Demonstrating exceptional resilience and racing skills, he went on to win two races and finished in the top 10 in nearly half of his heats — a feat never before achieved by an Indian sailor in this class.
“This means the world to me,” Zahaan said after the event. “I’m incredibly grateful to my coach, Umesh Naiksatam, and the entire 24Seven Sailing Team for pushing me every step of the way, and to my mentor Amish Ved for his constant belief and guidance.”
He extended heartfelt thanks to his parents, Nilima and Ashish Hemrajani (founder of BookMyShow), for their unwavering support. He also acknowledged Captain Abhimanyu Patankar of the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC) and the Royal Bombay Yacht Club (RBYC) for their vital roles in his development as a sailor.
“This means the world to me,” Zahaan said after the event. “I’m incredibly grateful to my coach, Umesh Naiksatam, and the entire 24Seven Sailing Team for pushing me every step of the way, and to my mentor Amish Ved for his constant belief and guidance.”
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Zahaan’s world-class performance shines a spotlight on India’s emerging sailing talent and sets a powerful precedent for the nation’s future in international junior sailing.