Mussanah Open sailing: Good opening day for Indians

Indian sailors had a fairly successful first day at the Mussanah Open Championship 2021 at the Millenium Resort in Mussanah, Oman on Saturday.

The Mussanah Open is an Olympic qualifier for Asia and Africa. There are two Asian spots each available in the Laser Radial and Laser Standard classes, while all other classes have one Asian spot each for Tokyo 2020.

Teenager Harshita Tomar sat second in the Laser Radial (women) class with six points – having finished fourth in the first race and second in the second race. Compatriot Nethra Kumanan was placed fourth with nine points (second in Race 1, seventh in Race 2).

In the Laser Standard (men) class, Upamanyu Dutta was the best-placed Indian after the opening day with 11 points in two races (sixth and fifth). Vishnu Saravanan was seventh with 14 points (third and 11th).

The team of Ekta Yadav (Helm) and Ritika Dangi (Crew) were the only Indian sailors to taste victory on the opening day as they won the third race in the 49er FX class.

They currently sit third with eight points (third in Race 1, fourth in Race 2, first in Race 3).

The 49er class saw the Indian team of Ganapathy Chengappa (Helm) and Varun Thakkar (Crew) placed fourth with 18 points (fifth, tenth and third).

Meanwhile, international debutant Ishwariya Ganesh lay third in the RS:X Women class with five points.

Indian sailors standings at Mussanah Open after Day 1

Laser Radial class

2. Harshita Tomar – 6 points

4. Nethra Kumanan – 9 points

7. Ramya Saravanan – 16 points

12. Jayalakshmi Sundaravadivel – 21 points

Laser Standard class

4. Upamanyu Dutta – 11 points

7. Vishnu Saravanan – 14 points

12. Mohit Saini – 23 points

15. Ram Milan Yadav – 29 points

16. Gitesh – 32 points

49erFX class

3. Ekta Yadav and Ritika Dangi – 8 points

49er class

4. Ganapathy Chengappa and Varun Thakkar – 18 points

11. Prince Noble and Manu Francis – 26 points

12. Sandip Jain and Munna Pandit – 29 points

RS:X Women class

3. Ishwariya Ganesh – 5 points

RS:X Men class

5. Ebad Ali – 10 points

11. Jerome Savarimuthu – 20 points