Tight Leaderboards and High Drama Mark Day 3 of SDAT ASAF India International Youth Sailing Championship 2026
Chennai, January 8: The SDAT ASAF India International Youth Sailing Championship 2026, being held alongside the 11th India International Regatta, delivered another gripping day of competition as young sailors battled challenging conditions and razor-thin margins on Thursday. With strong winds, heavy currents, and rising swells testing every fleet, Day 3 proved to be a turning point, dramatically tightening the leaderboard across categories.
Three official races were completed across classes, along with a special ceremonial fourth race that was flagged off by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. The Minister also interacted with several of the city’s top young sailors, reinforcing the national commitment to the development of sailing and water sports in the country.
The conditions were as demanding as they were thrilling. While the fleet had already endured gusty winds on Day 2 at the International Youth Sailing Championship 2026, the sailors faced an added challenge on Thursday with significantly stronger currents and higher swells. The introduction of the first discard race further reshaped the standings, bringing several contenders back into medal contention and ensuring that the final day will be a high-pressure affair.
The Optimist Girls fleet witnessed one of the biggest shake-ups of the regatta. Ireland’s Phillippa Aisling Cox Arthurs surged up the standings to draw level on points with India’s Shringhari Roy, setting up a thrilling head-to-head battle for the top spot. Ireland’s Lilly Sheridan remains close behind in third place, keeping the podium race wide open.
In the Optimist Boys category, India’s Krishna Venkitachalam continued his composed run in testing seas to consolidate his lead at the top of the leaderboard. Malaysia’s Khairulilzani Bin Mohd Afendy sits second, while India’s Aldrin Antony of Trishna Sailing Association occupies third, ensuring intense competition going into the decisive races.
The battle in the ILCA 4 Girls fleet has reached a boiling point with Aastha Pandey and Tulsi Patle, both from NSS Bhopal, now tied on points. Their teammate Mahi Verma remains firmly in contention, promising a nail-biting finish in one of the most closely fought categories of the championship.
In the ILCA 4 Boys division, Peerkatla Manadeep of Trishna Sailing Club rose to the top after a series of consistent performances. He is followed closely by Ankit Singh Sisodiya and Rajveer Yadav, both representing NSS Bhopal, as the fleet prepares for an all-or-nothing final day.
The double-handed classes also produced compelling contests. In the 420 Mixed class, Aarti Verma and Aryan Harshyana of CESC retained the lead, while Hriethik Amarjaiswal and Samanvi U of Trishna SC continue to chase them closely. The 29er fleet remains dominated by Trishna Sailing Club, with Akash Mahesh Tangai and Krishna Diwakar leading ahead of clubmates Pallara Govardhan and Ruben Narlekar.
In the high-speed iQFoil Boys category, India’s Razaa Ahmed Khan continues to set the pace, holding the top position after another confident day on the water.
With close scores across nearly every class and favourable weather forecasts, all signs point toward a dramatic conclusion on Day 4. As the young sailors gear up for the final showdown, the SDAT ASAF India International Youth Sailing Championship 2026 stands out as a powerful showcase of India’s rising talent and the country’s growing footprint in international youth sailing.
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