The Hindu : Rajesh Choudhary emerges champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Sailing

Rajesh Choudhary emerges champion

Amit Arvind (left) who won the radial class and Rajesh Choudhary who won the full rig category in the Laser Coastal Nationals in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI FEB. 16. Rajesh Choudhary of Army Yachting Node (Mumbai) emerged the champion in the full rig class of the Royal Madras Yacht Club-conducted Bengal Tiger Line-Laser Coastal Nationals, which concluded in the open sea outside the harbour, here, on Sunday.

It was the 29-year-old yachtsman's maiden coastal title in this class.

His previous best was the bronze in the 1999 edition. In 1997, however, he won the radial class gold here.

Rajesh, bronze medallist (radial class) in the last Asian Games, piped host club's Sandeep Srikanth to the post.

It must be said here that the light wind conditions suited the former who weighs 12 kg lesser.

Joint overnight leaders, the 10th and final race was the tiebreak decider after Rajesh pocketed the day's opening race even after having to re-round the starting mark as he had jumped the start. Sandeep, 21, a two-time National full rig champion, didn't have a good start either in the ninth race.

But as the race progressed, the two broke away from the rest. There was a `tacking' contest between the two and while trying to keep pace, Sandeep capsized on the `reach', but recovered to finish third. D.P. Selvam took the second spot.

Sandeep had the best start in the decider while Rajesh was slowed down by Selvam, who jumped the start and `tacked' on to him. Sandeep was the first to complete the triangle and held the lead for a long time while Rajesh, who overtook the rest in style, was hot on his heels.

A little while later, the wind speed picked up enough for Rajesh to power his way past Sandeep.

It was Sandeep's second runner-spot in the full rig Coastal's here. In 1999, he had finished second behind Lt. Mahesh.

Capt. Meenu Dahiya won the first race in the radial class while Amit Arvind, who assured himself of the title a day earlier, pocked the final race.

Young Rohit Ashok of the host club emerged runner-up in this category.

The results: Full rig - Race IX: 1. Rajesh Choudhary (AYN, Mumbai), 2. D.P. Selvam (AYN), 3. Sandeep Srikanth (RMYC). Race X: 1. Rajesh Choudhary, 2. Sandeep Srikanth, 3. N.S. Johal (AYN).

Radial - Race IX: 1. Capt. Meenu Dahiya (CESC, Pune), 2. Amit Arvind (NSC, Mumbai), 3. P.P. Madhu (AYN). Race X: 1. Amit Arvind, 2. Rohit Ashok (RMYC), 3. P.P. Madhu.

Final placings:

Full rig: 1. Rajesh Choudhary (10 penalty points), 2. Sandeep Srikanth (12), 3. N.S. Johal (28), 4. D.P. Selvam (29), 5. V. Harihara (AYN, 32). Radial: 1. Amit Arvind (8), 2. Rohit Ashok (16), 3. P.P. Madhu (22), 4. Capt. Meenu Dahiya (39), 5. Harish Haridas (TNSA, 41).

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