New Delhi: His confidence is at a high after finishing 25th place recently. world Championships –Best ever by an Indian in the marquee event, India’s premier laser class sailor Vishnu Saravanan Aiming for another rare achievement – a gold in the next year asian games,
India has won only one gold in sailing since the sport’s introduction in the continental multi-sport showpiece in 1982 through Farooq Tarapore in 1970.
The 22-year-old Saravanan, who finished 20th at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year, feels he can win India’s second sailing gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games next year and its first in 40 years.
Asked how confident he is to top the Chinese city in 2022, Saravanan told PTI: “No less than gold.”
“I was the best Asian at the ILCA7 World Championships in Barcelona (which ended last week) and the 2018 Asian Games bronze winner from Singapore finished behind me. It was a great feeling that I could have produced the best result by an Indian in the world. Championship.”
2018 Asian Games gold medalist Ha Ji-min (Korea) and silver winner Khairulnizam Afendi (Malaysia) as well as China’s Chen He, who finished 15th in Tokyo, were not in Barcelona. But Asian Games bronze medalists Ryan Ho (Singapore) and Kazumasa Segawa (Japan), who finished fourth in Jakarta, were around and the Indians were comfortably on top.
“I am second in the Asian rankings, but I have beaten top ranked Singapore in the World Championships,” Saravanan said.
A third year B.Com student, Saravanan became the Youth National Champion in 2016 and won the Senior National Laser Standard Class in 2018. He won bronze at the Under-21 World Championships in Croatia in 2019.
After finishing 20th at the Tokyo Olympics, he jumped from 113 in the world rankings in March last year to 28 at the end of September this year, and Saravanan is looking to continue the rise.
“I finished 84th at the last World Championships in Sakaiminato City, Japan in 2019 and 25th out of 135 competitors this time in Barcelona. My goal at the next World Championships in Mexico (in May 2022) is to finish in the top-10 Is.” he said.
For now, it is an off-season competition and Saravanan will focus on training ahead of international events starting in April next year.
“There is no competition from December to March. So, I will work hard in this period. From April I will have some competitions and I will go for the World Championships and then the Asian Games.”
Asked if he is sure of his selection for the next Asian Games, Saravanan said, “Yes, more or less. I am number one in the country after two rounds of trials.
“The third match will be in May next year and I will not participate because it is clashing with the world championship, but in the second trial my position, which is first place, will be counted. That’s why I should be selected , That said, adding only one athlete from a country would participate in a sailing event at the Asian Games.
Saravanan said that he has not faced financial problems as he is involved in Target Olympic Podium Plan of Sports Authority of IndiaIndian Army, apart from support from their employers and Yachting Association of India,
India has won only one gold in sailing since the sport’s introduction in the continental multi-sport showpiece in 1982 through Farooq Tarapore in 1970.
The 22-year-old Saravanan, who finished 20th at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year, feels he can win India’s second sailing gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games next year and its first in 40 years.
Asked how confident he is to top the Chinese city in 2022, Saravanan told PTI: “No less than gold.”
“I was the best Asian at the ILCA7 World Championships in Barcelona (which ended last week) and the 2018 Asian Games bronze winner from Singapore finished behind me. It was a great feeling that I could have produced the best result by an Indian in the world. Championship.”
2018 Asian Games gold medalist Ha Ji-min (Korea) and silver winner Khairulnizam Afendi (Malaysia) as well as China’s Chen He, who finished 15th in Tokyo, were not in Barcelona. But Asian Games bronze medalists Ryan Ho (Singapore) and Kazumasa Segawa (Japan), who finished fourth in Jakarta, were around and the Indians were comfortably on top.
“I am second in the Asian rankings, but I have beaten top ranked Singapore in the World Championships,” Saravanan said.
A third year B.Com student, Saravanan became the Youth National Champion in 2016 and won the Senior National Laser Standard Class in 2018. He won bronze at the Under-21 World Championships in Croatia in 2019.
After finishing 20th at the Tokyo Olympics, he jumped from 113 in the world rankings in March last year to 28 at the end of September this year, and Saravanan is looking to continue the rise.
“I finished 84th at the last World Championships in Sakaiminato City, Japan in 2019 and 25th out of 135 competitors this time in Barcelona. My goal at the next World Championships in Mexico (in May 2022) is to finish in the top-10 Is.” he said.
For now, it is an off-season competition and Saravanan will focus on training ahead of international events starting in April next year.
“There is no competition from December to March. So, I will work hard in this period. From April I will have some competitions and I will go for the World Championships and then the Asian Games.”
Asked if he is sure of his selection for the next Asian Games, Saravanan said, “Yes, more or less. I am number one in the country after two rounds of trials.
“The third match will be in May next year and I will not participate because it is clashing with the world championship, but in the second trial my position, which is first place, will be counted. That’s why I should be selected , That said, adding only one athlete from a country would participate in a sailing event at the Asian Games.
Saravanan said that he has not faced financial problems as he is involved in Target Olympic Podium Plan of Sports Authority of IndiaIndian Army, apart from support from their employers and Yachting Association of India,
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