14-year-old Hyderabad sailor wins bronze at international regatta

Fourteen-year-old Ravi Kumar Bonnelu of Hyderabad won a bronze medal at the International Sailing Regatta in Chennai, braving rough seas against sailors from seven countries. The performance marks a milestone for Hyderabad sailing on the global stage.

Hyderabad: Ravi Kumar Bonnelu, at just 14, has made Hyderabad proud by winning a bronze medal in the recently-concluded International Sailing Regatta in Chennai, featuring seven countries and 48 sailors from Sweden, Ireland, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Maurities besides hosts India.

Ravi, a student of Udbhav School having moved over from Nallakunta Government School, was amongst the lightest and physically diminutive and at just 34 kgs blasted thru the fleet in 15-20 knots of breeze and despite being a lake sailor for the most part battled the two-metre monsoon waves in Chennai to claim the boys bronze, says Suheim Sheikh, President of Yacht Club of Secunderabad and head coach.

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“The hallmark of Ravi Kumar’s sailing is consistency and while clinching multiple 2nd’s and 3rd’s he remained above fifth across the regatta and powered the boat despite the rough conditions and his light weight to clinch his first International medal,” says Suheim.

Ravi’s father Bimesh Bonnelu is a skilled construction worker and mother Maheshwari is a domestic worker at three houses. Originally from Narayanpet (Mahabubnagar) the family now lives near Paradise Secunderabad and also serve as caretakers of the building they are housed in.

“I have no words to express my gratitude and it’s God’s grace that connected us to the Yacht Club of Hyderabad and now our Ravi is an International medallist . We are eagerly awaiting his return to Hyderabad tomorrow and we have multiple celebrations at the school , at the Yacht Club and at home for him. We are thankful for the able guidance of our Udbhav School and Suheim Sheikh his coach“, said a beaming Beemesh and Maheshwari in a video conference

“Nobody in our entire village or neighbourhood has represented India and Ravi at just 14 has already visited 6 countries . With our background we did not ever imagine this kind of life for him. With the help of Udbhav School we now want him to study and become a big officer“ , says a proud Beemesh

“Ravi Kumar has another year in the under 15 and is likely to be selected to multiple internationals including the Asian Beach games at Sanya China in April. Ravi has already travelled to Oman for the Asians, Malaysia and Singapore for Internationals but this is by far the cherry on the cake of his international participation,” says Suheim.

“I was placed 4th till the last race and had to beat only one sailor by 2 positions to get a medal and I beat him by 6 positions in the last race to get bronze. I would like to thank my coach Suheim Sheikh for having trusted that I will do well despite my weight disadvantage in these heavy winds “ , said a proud Ravi Kumar .

Ravi is a veteran of multiple internationals having already represented the Indian National squad at 6 countries Oman twice, , Langkawi twice, , Singapore and the Czech Republic.

Another star from Hyderabad was Manideep Peerkatla of Rasooplura now sailing for the Army but from Hyderabad and an alumni of The Yacht Club who topped the under 18 fleet with a spectacular Gold medal . Manideep is the son of construction labour at Rasoolpura and joined the Army School at Mysore from the YCH 5 years ago. It was a clean sweep from India in the under 18 boys with all three medals

In the Skiff Class Govardhan Pallara another stalwart from The Yacht Club of Hyderabad bagged the silver . “The medal tally of 3 for our YCH alumni at this international is unprecedented “, said Suheim Sheikh, president of Yacht Club of

There were 11 girls in the Indian fleet and Shringari Roy also of Hyderabad , a sailor from Secunderabad Club , sailed brilliantly to clinch the girls silver just two penalty points behind the Irish Phillipa Cox .

Shringari Roy was all set or gold but the unusual points system that she protested unfortunately reduced her to be content with the silver. Her technique and speed has dramatically improved thanks to a stint before the regatta at Chennai to get used to wind and water.

Hyderabad finished with one bronze, two silveer and a bronze to ensure a record performance.

“A quadruple International medal tally is a novelty for Hyderabad sailing and onwards to Sanya for the Asian Beach Games in April where all 4 of them will proudly represent India again,” says Suheim.