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Eternal India
encyclopedia
SPORTS
Arjun Awards:
Hav Uday Chand, Malwa, Ganpat Andelkar,
Trishambu Singh, Bhim Singh, Mukhtiar Singh, Master Chandgi
Ram, Sudesh Kumar, Prem Nath, Jagroop Singh, Satpal, Rajinder
Singh, Jagminder Singh, Kartar Singh, Mahabir Singh, Subhash,
Rajesh Kumar, Satyakar, Ombir Singh, Guru Hanuman.
Padmasri:
Master Chandgi Ram, Guru Hanuman, Satpal, Kartar
Singh.
Dronacharya
(for coaches) : B.B. Bhagwat, Guru Hanuman.
YACHTING
The use of boats and ships can be traced
back to the time when man discovered wind
power. The use of sails to propel boats has
been in vogue for over thousands of years. The
earliest use of a yacht for pleasure sailing
dates back to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra,
who cruised in her yachts on the ‘big blue Nile’
during her free moments. The yachts are also associated with Eng-
lish monarchs. Queen Elizabeth in 1588 was the proud possessor
of a pleasure ship called “Yacht” while King Charles II owned a
25-tonne yacht called ‘Jamie’.
Yachting, in its modem form, however originated in 17th century
Holland, where it became a necessity as a means of transport along
the country’s lengthy waterways. The first international rules for
yachting as a sport were framed in 1904 and the International
Yachting Federation formed in 1907. Though yachting became an
Olympic sport in 1900, the rules were completely revised in 1964 by
the international body. The sport made its debut in the Asian
Games in Bangkok in 1970 and became a regular feature of the
Asian Games movement from the 1978 Asian Games, again in
Bangkok. Though not a popular mass sport in India, the steps to
form a yachting association at the national level were taken at a
get-together of 19 like-minded persons at the College of Military
Engineering, Kirkee, Pune on 13th September, 1959. Represented
by six clubs, the promoters decided on the title of Yachting Asso-
ciation of India, which was bom on 15th May, 1960 with the
approval of the draft ‘Constitution’. Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia
was unanimously elected the first president and K.O. Stiffle as the
first honorary secretary. Subsequently more clubs joined the asso-
ciation.
With eight clubs participating, the first sailing regatta was held
in 1960 at the Khadakwasla Lake in Pune. With the introduction of
new classes of boats, the nationals have now become an annual
feature under each category.
India’s first international exposure was the participation in the
Southern Asia Yachting Regatta held at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in
1970. Participating in the Asian Games in 1970, the Indian pair of
Soli Contractor and Afsar Hussain won the bronze medal (the
country’s first ever medal abroad) in the ‘Enterprise class’.
1971 saw another landmark in India’s yachting history with the
formation of the Indian National Cadet Class Association with a
view to tapping the talent of young yachtsmen. A new era in the
history of Indian yachting was heralded with the participation in the
1972 Olympic Games. Soli Contractor, Mogul, Basith, V.P. Singh
and Oberoi represented India in the Flying Dutchman and Finn
class.
In 1975, India took the initiative for the formation of the Asian
Yachting Federation and India’s Lt. Gen. Das was elected the first
chairman of the federation. Again in 1987, India was the main force
in forming the Commonwealth Yachting Federation and India had
the privilege of hosting the first Commonwealth championships in
Bombay.
In the 1978 Asian Games, India earned its first silver medal
through S.K.Mongia and D.Kumar in the Enterprise class. This was
followed up with a bronze in the World Enterprise championships in
1981. The same year India took a lion's share of the medals in the
Asian Yachting Championships held at Bombay.
E. Tarapore and D.Z. Karanjia made history in the 1982 Asian
Games yachting events by winning the gold medal in the Fireball
class. Though the Asian Games were held in New Delhi, the yacht-
ing and rowing events were held in Bombay.
With a silver and a bronze also in that Asiad, the Indian yachts-
men now set their sails on the Olympic Games. Tarapore and
Bhandari opted for the 470 class with this in view and immediately
reaped success in the form of silver medals in the 1983 Asian
Yachting Championships and 1986 Asian Games. India has also
been participating in the Olympic Games in the 470 class since the
1984 Olympiad.
India also hosted the International Cadet Class world champi-
onships in Bombay in 1978 with Farokh Tarapore and Sanjay
Rawell winning bronze medals. India’s moment of glory in the cadet
class was during the 22nd International Cadet Class world cham-
pionships held again at Bombay during 1988. Cyrus Cama and
Amish Ved claimed the gold with Nikhil Ved and Kapila bagging the
bronze.
1989 saw another golden moment in Indian yachting with
Kudroli and Patel bagging the gold and becoming the new Asian
champions in the Enterprise class in the Asian Yachting Champion-
ships at Beijing, China. F. Tarapore and Cyrus Cama won a silver in
the 470 class in the same meet.
Apart from the above achievements, the Yachting Association
of India has been in the forefront of encouraging various ocean
sailing voyages. The major trophies of the association are: the
‘Admiral Kohli Trophy’ awarded to individuals for their contribu-
tion to the sport; the 'Yachtsmen of the Year Trophy' awarded to
the yachtsmen with the most outstanding performance in a year,
presented by Admiral R.R Tahliani; and the ‘Most promising
Yachtsmen of the Year Trophy’, presented by Admiral J.C.
Nadkarni.
Awards and Winners
Padmasri:
Gulshan Rai.
Arjuna Awards:
Soli Contractor, Afsar Hussain, S.K. Mongia,
D.Z. Karanjia, F. Tarapore, Fali Unwalla, Jeejee Unwalla, Gulshan
Rai, Dhruv Bhandari, C.S.Pradipak and K.S. Rao.
OTHER INDIGENOUS SPORTS
Following is an area-wise brief description of other indigenous
sports of India.
ASSAM
Dhop
: An ancient game, dhop is a seasonal sport played during
the spring festival. Demanding a high degree of acrobatic skill,
stamina and speed, there are two kinds of dhop, played by men and
women respectively. The game is played with a solid rubber ball on