HYDERABAD: The final of the Monsoon Regatta turned out into a nail-biting affair with the top rankers fighting it out for a medal in both the boys’ and girls’ categories. Only Jhansi Priya Laveti, who was sitting pretty with the title in her pocket, was the cool cat amongst the sailors. She had won the Monsoon Regatta title trophy and the girls’ gold medal and the girls’ trophy by a very convincing margin.
Hyderabad girl Vaishnavi Veeravamsham had to beat Divayanshi Mishra of Bhopal to clinch the girls’ silver medal. Divanshi led the fleet for a while with Vaishnavi lying 5th for most of the race but Vaishnavi tactically sailed a fantastic last three legs to win it and the silver. Divyanshi came in a creditable fifth to claim the bronze. Vaishnavi also wins the overall bronze medal.
In the boys’ race, Eklavya Batham of Bhopal won the overall silver and boys’ gold. The battle for silver was between Vishvanath of Goa and Shashank Batham of Bhopal. Vishvanath clinched the silver and Shashank took home the bronze as their performance was assessed on the basis of the last race.
Ravali Parandi of Hyderabad had to win the final race to be anywhere in the medal reckoning but the winds proved too strong for her diminutive frame and had to contend with a fourth place behind Divyanshi amongst the girls.
The awards ceremony was held on the lawns of the YCH Foundation and was presided over by BM Santhosh, MD of Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited, and Commodore BR Singh, Hon. Secretary General of the Yachting Association of India.
Overall points tally: Jhansi Priya Laveti (gold, 31 points), Ekalavya Batham (silver, 40), Vaishnavi Veeravamsham (bronze, 48), Divayanshi Mishra (57), Vishvanath Padidal (58), Shashank Batham (61).
