The relaxing banks of Hussainsagar Lake in the city may make you feel at ease but it made huge ripples in the life of a city teenager. Ananya Chouhan fell in love with water way back in 2012. That’s when she started sailing and didn’t look back. Ananya recently won a silver medal in Laser 4.7 Girls, in the under 18 category, at Hyderabad Sailing Week but that’s one of the many feats she has achieved in sailing. She has won several medals across many competitions held in India and aboard. When asked about how she prepared for the tournament even when her class X board exams were around, she says, “It was very tough to balance academics and my passion for sailing. I knew I had to excel in both. Generally I try to participate in all championships happening in India, so the pressure is on all the time to perform.”
“When you go into water it’s very peaceful and I like the idea to be alone in the boat in control of the reins. That’s why I chose to compete in the Laser category even when there is an option for doubles and triple-seater boats,” says Ananya. “Her coaches gave very positive feedback after her initial sailings and they keep on encouraging her to do better,” says Ananya’s mother Soniya, while her dad Pranay adds, “I am very happy that we allowed her to take up sailing after the initial hiccups, as it is a very expensive sport to pursue in India. Ananya also had the opportunity to assist Dilip Donde, who is the first Indian naval officer to sail around the world, in one of his expeditions,” says Pranay.
Ananya has taken up science and maths in class XI and looks forward to shaping a career out of it. Sailing, on the other hand, will be her passion for life. Right now, she practices sailing on the weekends and concentrates on academics for the rest of the week.
