Muscat, Oman, April 9, 2021: Trained dancer and singer Nethra Kumanan became the first Indian female sailor to earn a berth at the Olympics thanks to her exploits in the Laser Radial class at the Mussanah Open Championship which ended in Oman on Thursday, April 8.
The Mussanah Open, an Asian and African qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics, featured six classes, three men and three women, with Olympic places up for grabs in each category.
Kumanan, a 22-year-old engineering student from Chennai and a trained Indian classical dancer, etched her name in Indian sporting history by finishing second behind guest sailor Emma Jeanne Savelon of the Netherlands. Kumanan and Stephanie Norton of Hong Kong China, who finished third, grabbed the Olympic spots.
It was a memorable competition for the whole Indian contingent as three others qualified for the Tokyo Games from July 23 to August 8. Vishnu Saravanan (Laser Standard Class) and the pair of Ganapathy Chengappa and Varun Thakkar (49er Class) also sealed their spots.
Singapore’s Ryan Lo Jun Han, who won the men’s Laser event, also claimed an Olympic ticket. Joining him was compatriot Amanda Ng Ling Kai whose quest for a Tokyo ticket was only decided on the final day of the April 1-8 championships. Windsurfer Ng booked it by winning the final race in the RS:X women’s class.
Tokyo Olympics sailing qualifiers
Men’s events
Laser - Ryan Lo Jun Han (Singapore), Vishnu Saravanan (India).
RS:X – Natthapong Phonoppharat (Thailand).
49er – Ganapathy Chengappa and Varun Thakkar (India).
Women’s events
Laser Radial – Nethra Kumanan (India), Stephanie Norton (Hong Kong, China).
RS:X – Amanda Ng Ling Kai (Singapore).
49er – Chen Shasha and Ye Jin (China).
