The Hindu : Sport : Nacchatar Singh Johal ventures into difficult territory

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Nacchatar Singh Johal ventures into difficult territory

Nandakumar Marar

The Indian sailor is competing in the Finn category

Indian sailors at the Games
— Munich, 1972, Soli Contractor and A.A. Basith, 29th in Flying Dutchman Class.
— Los Angeles, 1984, Farokh Tarapore & Dhruv Bhandari, 17th out of 29 in 470 Class.
— Seoul, 1988, F. Tarapore & Kelly Rao, 17th/29 in 470 Class.
— Barcelona, 1992, F. Tarapore & Cyrus Cama, 23rd/37 in 470 Class.
— Athens, 2004, Malav Shroff & Sumeet Patel, 19th/19 in 49er Class.

— File Photo

LUCKY BREAK: N.S. Johal, who got the nod on the basis of Unused Quota Positions (UQP) allotted by the ISAF, will be the only Indian sailor at Beijing.

MUMBAI: Indian sailors are still at sea in the Olympic yachting arena. Success at the Asian level, in the form of medals at numerous Asian Games, popped up Olympic hopefuls who found it tough to keep in step with world-class competition.

Nachhatar Singh Johal ventures into difficult territory as the lone Indian sailor at Beijing, competing in the Finn category (heavyweight dingy), featuring double Olympic yachting champion Ben Ainslie of Great Britain.

The sport is so competitive at the Olympic level that qualifying is the first hurdle for Indians. Johal is the highest ranked Asian (No. 53) on the International Sailing Federation July 2008 list (ahead of China’s Zheng Peng who is 57) and got the nod on the basis of Unused Quota Positions (UQP) allotted by the ISAF.

Pitted against the best

In Athens in 2004, a wildcard entry got Sumeet Patel and Malav Shroff the chance to test themselves against the world’s accomplished yachtsmen in the 49er class. After their first appearance at the 1972 Munich Games, Indian yachtsmen failed to qualify for Montreal (1976), Moscow (1980), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000).

Currently preparing on his own, Johal took part in the Sail Melbourne International Regatta (Melbourne) and Finn Gold Cup (Victoria) early this year, finishing 35th and 57th respectively.

He started with the Laser Class at the College of Military Engineering. In 2007, he began training in the Finn category after a move to the Army Yachting Mode. Johal is funded by the Indian Army’s Mission Olympic Wing.

Bright talent

National sailing coach, Homi Motivala, a Khel Ratna and Dronacharya Awardee, views Johal as a bright talent, who required extensive international exposure to become Olympic material. “He got into the Olympics due to withdrawal. We were on the waitlist this time.

“Johal’s decision to compete in Australia was a better way to prepare than training on his own here. Sailing is a sport where you have to constantly race against higher ranked opponents,” Motivala said.

“I hope he gets a foreign coach, so that he will be actually ready for Olympic competition by 2012. Our best sailors need to be competing regularly on the international circuit for eight to nine months, gaining experience of varied conditions. Otherwise it is difficult to make up the deficit,” observed the coach, giving an insight into the way top sailing nations prepare.

“Johal’s competitors from the USA and Europe have already sailed in Qingdao (Beijing yachting venue), collected data on wind conditions and tides and will modify their strategy to make the most of race conditions. Sailing is a 12-month, four years life for these Olympians from leading nations,” Motivala said.

International exposure

“We take part in four events to tune up for the Olympics, two at full cost to the government. So till we understand the need for international exposure, preferably under expert coaches, making a mark is tough. It is creditable for Johal to have gone so far, he is fortunate to have the backing of the Army.”

Indian yachtsmen have been winning medals at the Asian Games in different categories, apart from World titles in the Enterprise Class. Motivala won two bronzes (teaming up with Pushpendra Garg) in Open Enterprise Class in Beijing (1990) and Hiroshima (1994), besides the World Enterprise title in 1993 in Zimbabwe, but has not competed at the Olympics.

Three-time Olympian Farokh Tarapore recorded one gold, one silver and two bronzes at the Asian Games from 1982-94, then capped his career with the World Enterprise crown (partnering Kelly Rao) in Mumbai (1991).

Asked about what the Indians should do to succeed at the Olympic level, Motivala said: “We have to change or be left behind.”

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