Leela Sagar brings city’s first national medal in the Optimus Class in 25 years
Leela Sagar won a bronze medal at the All India U-16 National Sailing Championship. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Leela Sagar sailed to a bronze medal at the recently concluded All India U-16 National Sailing championship held at Mumbai. The city boy, whose mother works as a domestic help, brought home Hyderabad’s first national medal in the Optimus Class in 25 years.
“I am very happy after winning the bronze medal. My mother was in tears when she saw the medal and said that she was proud of me. She kept boasting about my achievement in the neighbourhood and seeing her so proud brought tears to my eyes,” Sagar said.
The 12-year-old who attends Udhbab School, an IIM alumni’s school, had only two days of practice before the event and yet won the medal. “This kid has come a long way in three years. He has got a lot of potential and I know he will go places,” said Suheim Sheikh, his coach.
“Sagar won a gold at the Monsoon Regatta, a national event which did not see the top eight sailors from the country participating in it. But in this one he sailed along with them and won a bronze,” Sheikh added.
Sagar was off the blocks on the first day of the event as he topped the charts. He dropped a place at the end of the second day. And on the third day, he dropped further points owing to his bad start and finished the event third. “The competition was tough and Mahesh Balacharna, who won the gold medal in the Optimus Class, was tough to beat,” the class VIII student said.
( Source : dc )
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