ILCA Open International Sailing Championship
The championship, held alongside the Yachting Association of India (YAI) 40th Hyderabad Sailing Week 2026, was hosted by the EME Sailing Association (EMESA) under the aegis of the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) in association with the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and YAI.
Hyderabad: India’s first ILCA Open International Sailing Championship concluded in Hyderabad on Saturday after bringing together 124 sailors, including international participants, for a week of competition on Hussain Sagar, strengthening the city’s position as a venue for competitive sailing.
The championship, held alongside the Yachting Association of India (YAI) 40th Hyderabad Sailing Week 2026, was hosted by the EME Sailing Association (EMESA) under the aegis of the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) in association with the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and YAI.
The event drew sailors from 19 sailing clubs and institutions, including Army, Navy and civilian sailing establishments, along with overseas participants. A total of 19 women and girls competed in the championship, which featured races across the ILCA 7, ILCA 6 (men and women) and ILCA 4 (boys and girls) categories.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Lieutenant General Neeraj Varshney, Commandant, MCEME, Colonel Commandant of the Corps of EME and Commodore of EMESA, said hosting the country’s first international ILCA Open Championship at the Hussainsagar marked an important milestone in Indian sailing. He said the event built on EMESA’s four-decade contribution to the sport, during which it has produced Olympians, Arjuna Awardees and several accomplished sailors.
Describing sailing as a sport that develops discipline, resilience, patience, self-reliance and leadership, he urged participants to view every challenge as an opportunity to learn. Quoting Christopher Columbus, he said, “If you have to cross the oceans, you have to leave the shore,” and encouraged the sailors to pursue new horizons with courage and determination.
