Hyderabad sailor Anikait wins Open Skiff U-17 title at Fotna Cup

Hyderabad teenager Anikait, grandson of legendary sailor C S Pradipak, won the Open Skiff Under-17 title at Fotna Cup 2026 in Chennai. His victory continued a family sailing legacy and highlighted his resilience after overcoming challenging race conditions

Hyderabad: Teenager Anikait from Hyderabad, grandson of legendary sailor C S Pradipak, continued his family’s rich sailing legacy by making a mark at the Fotna Cup 2026, winning the Open Skiff Under-17 category at the Royal Madras Yacht Club after a closely fought championship.

The regatta saw around 80 sailors from the Armed Forces and the civilian sailing community competing across six classes of boats, including multicrew yachts — J80, Omega and Enterprise — and single-hander classes — Open Skiff, Olympic class ILCA and Optimist.

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“Anikait took an early lead by winning all three races on Day 1. On Day 2, in high winds and strong conditions, his sail tore in Race 1 and he was forced to retire. Showing great composure, he bounced back in the remaining races to win the title by two points overall,” his proud mother Meghana Pradipak said.

“The win is special as Anikait represents the third generation of sailors in his family, continuing a proud sailing legacy. His grandfather, C S Pradipak, an Arjuna Awardee, was an Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallist who put Indian sailing on the world map,” said Meghana, herself a two-time national champion and an Asia-Pacific bronze medallist.

Anikait’s uncle, Arjun Pradipak, is a Commodore and coaches many young sailors at the Secunderabad Sailing Club. Many of them have won national and international regattas.

“Anikait, a student of Keystone Academy, trains at the Secunderabad Sailing Club and balances studies with sailing. He now plans to compete in as many championships and training camps as possible, both in India and abroad, to improve his performance internationally,” Meghana told Telangana Today.

“One of the biggest challenges faced by young sailors is the high costs associated with the sport, such as chartering sailboats, coaching fees, sailing equipment, travel and accommodation. Support for these young sailors at this stage would help them access the best facilities and represent India at the highest level,” Meghana said.