Indian Army’s Subedar Vishnu Saravanan from the Mumbai based Army Yachting Node has secured a qualification spot in the Laser Standard Class for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. He beat much more experienced Thai and Chinese competitors in the Mussanah Open Championship held at the AI Mussanah Sports city in Oman for the Olympic spot. The 22 year old was tied on points with two times Olympian Keerati Bualong from Thailand after ten races.
“Vishnu displayed maturity in handling the pressure and went on to win the medal race which was contested only by top ten sailors after ten fleet races were completed,” says the Indian Ministry of Defence release.
Vishnu Saravanan secured a silver medal after gruelling series of ten fleet races and one medal race. The sailor from Madras Engineers Group was selected in the Boys Sports Company scheme and is presently training under “Mission Olympics” programme of Indian Army.
Ryan Lo Jun Han from Singapore won the gold in the event. Other Indians who participated in the event include Upamanyu Dutta the 10th place, Mohit Saini at 12th place, Gitesh at 14th place and RamMilan Yadav at 17th place.
In the women’s category, India’s Nethra Kumanan also bagged the silver medal in the Laser Radial Class and has also secured a spot in the Olympics. She is the first Indian woman to do so. Other’s who participated include Harshita Tomar, Ramya Saravanan and Jayalakshmi Sundaravadivel.