Chennai, January 10:
The SDAT ASAF International Youth Sailing Championship Cup 2026 and the 11th edition of the India International Regatta (IIR) concluded in Chennai with India delivering a dominant performance, reaffirming the nation’s rising stature in international youth sailing.
Staged from 4 to 10 January at the Chennai Port – Timber Pond launch area, the championship was hosted by the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (TNSA) with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) as the principal sponsor. The regatta also received strong backing from the Port of Chennai, L&T, and Indian Oil Corporation Limited, while the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy ensured comprehensive on-water safety with rescue support throughout the week.
Global Participation
The regatta attracted young sailors from across the globe, with 120 sailors registered from 13 countries. Of these, 87 sailors between the ages of 12 and 18 ultimately took part in racing, comprising 62 boys and 23 girls from eight nations – India, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and Mauritius.
The international mix reinforced IIR’s status as India’s most established youth sailing competition and a recognised ranking event of the Yachting Association of India (YAI) and the Asian Sailing Federation (ASAF).
Medal Tally Highlights India’s Dominance
India finished the regatta with a commanding 12 medals out of 15, including six golds, three silvers and three bronzes, far ahead of the competition. Ireland claimed two medals (one gold and one bronze), while Malaysia secured a silver.
Tamil Nadu emerged as a major contributor to India’s success, fielding 27 athletes – 18 boys and nine girls – across categories. The standout performer was Krishna Venkitachalam, who clinched gold in the Optimist Boys category in a highly competitive fleet of 35 sailors.
A Platform That Builds Champions
The India International Regatta has long been recognised as a critical pathway event for young sailors aspiring to reach the Asian Games and Olympic stage. Since its inception in 2009, Chennai has hosted more than 1,200 sailors from over 25 countries over a decade of competition, providing rare international exposure to Indian athletes on home waters.
The regatta has been instrumental in shaping India’s sailing legacy, producing elite athletes who have represented the nation at the highest level. Among the most prominent names are Nethra Kumanan, India’s first woman sailor to compete in two Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), Varun Ashok Thakkar and K. C. Ganapathy, both Olympians and Asian Games bronze medallists, as well as Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan and Varsha Gautham, multiple-time Asian Games medallists.
Their journeys underscore how platforms like IIR provide young athletes with the confidence, competitive exposure and technical development needed to succeed globally.
Chennai – The Home of Youth Sailing
With each edition, IIR continues to strengthen Chennai’s reputation as the cradle of Indian sailing. The city’s combination of challenging wind patterns, tidal variation and professional event infrastructure has made it an ideal training ground for the next generation of sailors.
The 2026 edition, marked by high-quality racing, strong international participation and a stellar performance by Indian athletes, further elevated the championship’s standing in the Asian sailing calendar.
As the curtains come down on another memorable regatta, attention already turns to IIR 2027, with organisers aiming to expand participation and raise the competition’s international profile even further.
For Indian sailing, IIR 2026 was not just about medals — it was a celebration of a system that continues to produce champions.
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