Under constantly shifting winds and choppy waters off Girgaon Chowpatty, India’s best sailors were pushed to their limits on Day Two of the Sail India Asian Games Selection Trials II, as the race for places in the 2026 Asian Games squad gathered momentum in Mumbai.
The second day of racing underlined exactly why Sail India 2026 is regarded as the backbone of India’s high-performance sailing programme. With more than 150 sailors from 18 clubs and institutions competing across 14 boat classes, every start, every tactical decision and every mark rounding carried national consequences. Cumulative points from three trials will decide who represents India at the Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, ensuring there is no margin for complacency.
At the centre of Day Two’s narrative was Vishnu Saravanan, who once again stamped his authority in the ILCA 7 fleet. The Tokyo Olympian and Hangzhou Asian Games silver medallist showed why he remains India’s benchmark in single-handed dinghy sailing, navigating the tricky offshore breeze with composure and precision to maintain his grip on the top spot.
Saravanan’s control in difficult conditions
Girgaon Chowpatty offered a demanding test, with variable winds forcing sailors to constantly recalibrate their race strategy. Saravanan handled the conditions better than most, reading pressure shifts early and positioning himself smartly at the start line.
In a fleet where a single bad race can ruin an entire campaign, his consistency was as valuable as his speed. Rather than pushing recklessly, Saravanan chose control staying in clean air, avoiding traffic and capitalising when others faltered. As the trials move deeper into the week, his experience on the international circuit is proving to be a decisive edge.
With Asian Games qualification based on cumulative performance across multiple trials, Saravanan’s ability to bank strong finishes is putting him firmly on course for another major international assignment.
470 class heats up
If Saravanan brought authority to ILCA 7, the 470 class delivered high drama. Uma Chauhan and Sudhanshu Shekhar rose to the occasion on Day Two, producing a composed and technically sound performance that brought them right back into contention. The 470 is among the most tactically complex classes, requiring seamless coordination between helm and crew. In shifting winds, timing on spinnaker hoists, clean tacks and sharp mark roundings become decisive. Chauhan and Shekhar showed growing chemistry as they negotiated traffic and held their nerve through the most volatile phases of the races.
Their resurgence ensured that the 470 trials remain wide open, with no pair yet able to claim clear supremacy.
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Sail India 2026 is not just another regatta. It is a National Ranking Event and official Asian Games selection trial, conducted by the Army Yachting Node under the Mission Olympic Wing, in coordination with the Yachting Association of India and HQ MG & G Area.
The scale of the event reflects its importance: 180 races over eight days, across Olympic and international classes, all under intense scrutiny from selectors and performance analysts. At the opening ceremony, Major General Salil Seth, the Chief Guest, formally flagged off the competition, underlining the Indian Army’s growing role in India’s Olympic and Asian Games pathways. Alongside the Navy and civilian sailing clubs, the armed forces have become key pillars in India’s elite sailing ecosystem.
From Hangzhou to Nagoya
The urgency surrounding these trials is rooted in India’s breakthrough performance at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, where Indian sailors produced one of the country’s finest medal hauls in the sport’s history. That campaign proved India can challenge Asia’s traditional sailing powers when preparation, selection and execution align.
Now, with Nagoya 2026 on the horizon, Sail India has become the gateway to the next generation of that success. Unlike one-off trials, the Sail India system rewards durability. Sailors must perform across three selection events, in different conditions and under sustained pressure. It is a format designed to identify not just the fastest sailors, but the most reliable ones.
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Beyond medals, Sail India 2026 reflects a broader vision. The event is also tied to grassroots development initiatives, run in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Army Sailing School. Young sailors from Mumbai and other regions are being exposed to high-performance racing, equipment and coaching an investment aimed at strengthening India’s long-term talent pipeline.
Girgaon Chowpatty, long known more for public beaches than professional sport, has become a live classroom for India’s next generation of sailors.
With several days of racing still to come, the leaderboard remains fluid. Conditions are expected to vary further, which could reshuffle standings across multiple classes. For veterans like Vishnu Saravanan, consistency will be key. For emerging crews like Chauhan and Shekhar, momentum could yet swing the trials in their favour.
What is already clear is that Sail India 2026 has set the tone for India’s Asian Games campaign. The intensity, depth and professionalism on display in Mumbai signal a sport that has moved beyond participation toward genuine continental ambition. As the fleet continues to battle the Arabian Sea and each other, the message is unmistakable: India is no longer just sailing to compete. It is sailing to contend.
