Suheim Sheikh mentors young sailors as Yacht Club inspires champions
At 62, Suheim Sheikh, president of Yacht Club of Secunderabad, continues to mentor young sailors at Hussain Sagar Lake. His guidance has produced national champions, with debutants impressing at the Monsoon Regatta, blending academics and sport to inspire future talent
Hyderabad: At 62, Suheim Sheikh, president of the Yacht Club of Secunderabad, which has been at the forefront for decades not just in scouting young sailing talent but also grooming them into champion performers, simply cannot stay away from the waters — especially Hussain Sagar Lake.
For years, Suheim has mentored young sailors and provided them platforms to showcase their skills.
What keeps him going? “Well, the unbridled joy a boy or a girl shows when they win. I am lucky, or privileged, to see so many champions emerging. We have seven of the top 14 sailors in the country from YCS, which I feel is a terrific achievement,” Suheim told Telangana Today.
The indefatigable Suheim also pointed out that the kind of performances debutants produced in the just-concluded Monsoon Regatta clearly surprised him.
“I found out that it is a lot easier to transition from the Optimist to the 420 Class. There is a process — a lot of planning, scouting talent in villages and educational institutions, looking for trim and tall boys and girls, and in the under-15 category, not-so-tall ones too,” Suheim explained.
“I am extremely happy with the way 14-year-old Ravi (Optimist under-15) has been performing, going for international competitions with the Indian team too. The son of a mason, he stands out as an inspiration for others,” he said.
For someone who has become the face of regattas in the city for years, Suheim says that without motivation, there is very little he can do.
“It is important for us to blend academics and sports, for I feel there is no future only in sports. I don’t know when the sports quota jobs will be increased to provide a lifeline to achievers,” he said.
“We are grateful to the educational institutions for their support, and we also ensure that young sailors don’t miss any classes by arranging online tuitions even when they are away from the city for events,” Suheim explained.
So, when Chief Secretary to the Telangana State Government, Mr. K. Ramakrishna Rao, gave away the prizes to the medallists in the just-concluded Monsoon Regatta, Suheim’s joy knew no bounds!.
